Washington, DC, USA (us.gov.krd) – Representative Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman had a virtual meeting with Bonnie Carroll, founder, and president of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), on May 26 to discuss the organization’s work in America and Kurdistan Region.

Ms. Carroll and Mayada Shawkat, TAPS’ Iraq Program Manager, spoke with the Representative about the NGO’s history of supporting the bereaved families of fallen American military personnel, as well as TAPS’ international work.

The NGO’s international wing aims to share best practices in peer-based emotional support, create a network of surviving families of coalition partners, and promote stabilization and peacebuilding.

Representative Abdul Rahman congratulated Ms. Carroll on the NGO’s 27-year history of service to bereaved families and welcomed their work and interest in projects in the Kurdistan Region. Both sides underscored the strong bond between American and Kurdish service personnel and their families.