The Assyrian village of Hayes is located in the Barwar region of Dohuk Province in Iraq. This area has been inhabited by Assyrians for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. For the families here, farming is much more than just a job—it provides for the villagers and is therefore vital to their ability to continue living in the area.
Insufficient water supply

Farmers in Hayes rely primarily on their orchards to support their households. In recent years, the region has been severely affected by drought and reduced rainfall. This has made traditional farming more difficult for the farmers. The village’s water supply was insufficient to reach all the orchards, leading to reduced productivity that ultimately threatens the villagers’ economic survival.

Without reliable irrigation, these families face an uncertain future. There is a high risk that traditional Assyrian farmlands will be abandoned as the younger generation no longer sees a way to make a living in their hometown.

Project: Improve the irrigation system

To address the urgent needs in the area, the Swedish-Assyrian organization Assyrians Without Borders (AUG) collaborated with the Assyrian Aid Society (AAS, which has a presence in Sweden and locally in Iraq) to carry out a crucial infrastructure project in Hayes. The goal was to extend the existing water network directly to the farmlands that had previously been left without adequate irrigation.

As with many projects in which AUG and AAS collaborate, local buy-in is crucial. The organizations’ local teams coordinated efforts with the village’s local committee to ensure that the solution was tailored to the farmers’ needs. Technical expertise was then brought in to first plan and then excavate the rocky terrain and install the new pipelines. Volunteers from the village also helped with the work, which was completed at the end of December 2025.

The expanded water system now serves an additional 12 farms in the village.

Sustainability and Hope

The completion of the water network is transforming daily life for Assyrian families in Hayes. Improved access to water now makes it possible to increase crop yields in the village—which also enables families to build a more sustainable future in their own hometown. The younger generation is also encouraged to stay in the village, thereby preserving the Assyrian presence and culture in the area.

Asho Warda Dinka, one of the older residents of Hayes, shares his thoughts: “I used to pay a lot for irrigation for parts of my farm, but now, with the new pipelines, I have access to water in a whole new way. I am very grateful.”

Thanks to this collaboration, the prospects for successful farming have improved, and hopefully it will help ensure the continued presence of the Assyrian community in Hayes.

Info: Assyrians Without Borders

Assyrians Without Borders (AUG) is a Swedish nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of the Assyrian people in their countries of origin. AUG operates independently and is non-partisan and non-denominational. Since 2007, AUG has been affiliated with Svensk Insamlingskontroll (holder of a 90-account), which regularly audits its operations and verifies that AUG uses donations appropriately.

If you’d like to support AUG’s work, you can send a donation via Swish to 900 12 15 or become a monthly donor.