%20(1).png)
COMMUNITIES WE SUPPORT
Who We Are
LUMA Fund supports communities affected by ethnic and religious violence in Syria and Iraq.
Solidarity Across Communities
LUMA Fund is an inclusive fund and civic platform dedicated to supporting communities affected by ethnic and religious violence in the Middle East. For administrative and financial purposes, LUMA Fund is hosted through NLHY (NL Helpt Yezidis), a recognized Dutch foundation.
THE COMMUNITIES WE SUPPORT
Affected Communities
Kurds are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Middle East without their own nation-state, primarily inhabiting regions known as Kurdistan.
🇸🇾 🇮🇶 🇹🇷 🇮🇷 Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Iran
30–40 million globally; 2–3 million in Syria
Faced decades of persecution, cultural suppression, and military conflict.
⭐ Druze
Druze are a distinct religious & ethnic community with a unique faith tradition living mainly in southern Syria, parts of Lebanon & northern Israel.
🇸🇾 🇱🇧 🇮🇱 Syria, Lebanon, Israel
700,000–800,000 in Syria
Experienced violence, economic collapse, and growing isolation in certain areas.
🏛️ Turkmen
Turkmen are a Turkic ethnic group living mainly in northern Syria and Iraq, with distinct language and cultural traditions.
🇮🇶 🇸🇾 Iraq, Syria
Iraq: 500,000–3 million | Syria: several hundred thousand
Affected by fighting, displacement, and political marginalization.
☀️ Yazidis
Yazidis are a Kurdish-speaking religious minority centered in northern Iraq, with unique spiritual beliefs and a rich cultural heritage.
🇮🇶 Iraq
500,000–700,000 globally
Faced genocide at the hands of ISIS in 2014, with mass killings, enslavement, and forced displacement.
✝️ Assyrians / Syriacs
Assyrians are an indigenous people of Mesopotamia, with their own language (Aramaic) & Christian traditions.
🇮🇶 🇸🇾 Iraq, Syria
1–1.5 million in Iraq, 200,000–300,000 in Syria
Targeted attacks, church bombings, kidnappings, and forced displacement, especially under ISIS.
☀️ Kaka'i (Yarsanis)
The Kaka'i, also known as Yarsanis, are a religious minority mainly living in northern Iraq, especially around Kirkuk.
🇮🇶 Iraq
100,000–200,000
Targeted by extremist groups, leading to killings, forced displacement, and destruction of villages.
🕌 Alawites
Alawites are a religious community with roots in Shia Islam, primarily living along Syria's western coast and in major cities.
🇸🇾 Syria
2–3 million in Syria
Deeply affected by the Syrian civil war, suffering casualties, displacement, and long-term insecurity.
🇦🇲 Armenians
Armenians are an ethnic and religious community with deep historical roots in the region, many arriving after the Armenian Genocide.
🇸🇾 🇮🇶 Syria, Iraq
Syria: 150,000–200,000 | Iraq: 40,000–60,000
Many neighborhoods destroyed, leading to mass emigration. Communities significantly reduced.
💧 Mandaeans
Mandaeans are a small, ancient religious community with roots in southern Iraq, known for their unique baptism-based faith.
🇮🇶 Iraq
60,000–70,000 in Iraq (before 2003)
Severe persecution, killings, and forced migration nearly erased the community from its homeland.
