Message from Mayor of Hamdanaya, Issam Bhnam Matti
Nineveh 90 is a short-form podcast from the Chaldean News, featuring reports from the Nineveh Plain.
In his audio message, Mayor Issam Bhnam Matti, the mayor of Hamdanaya, spoke from Bakhdida, expressing deep sadness and pain caused by a devastating fire that occurred over two weeks ago. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of more than 128 lives, including children and women, with over 100 people sustaining injuries. Mayor Issam expressed gratitude for the solidarity and support received, both in terms of medical, moral, and financial assistance, from within Iraq, outside it, and from the Kurdistan Region.
The situation in the aftermath of the fire was described as difficult, especially for the families of the victims, who were enduring profound pain and emotional distress. He stressed the importance of providing mental health support to those affected and emphasized the need for a helping hand to navigate through this challenging phase, all while striving to preserve the community in their ancestral land.
English Transcription:
English Transcript for the mayor Of Hamdaniya/Qaraqoush/Bakhdaida
:48 I am Issam Behnam Matti, the mayor of Hamdaniyah (Qaraqoush) district.
:55 I am talking to you from the beautiful town of Bakhdida that today shrouded by sadness and wrapped with sorrows, as a consequence to the fire massacre that occurred two weeks ago and caused the death of 128 persons among them children and women in addition to over 100 people that suffered fatal injuries.
1:28 I wish to thank all of those who stood with us, and helped medically, financially, emotionally from within and outside Iraq as well as the KRG region.
1:46 Today, our town and its people are going through a difficult and sad situation, the families of victims are suffering from a sad and difficult situation, as we must embrace the families of victims who are facing the aftermath of the tragic loss of their loved ones and need emotional and mental support.
2:26 We need help at this time and circumstance in order to overcome this difficult situation, as we continue to try by all possible means to support our people, help them recover and stay in their ancestral land.