The first phase of a 1.8 billion Iraqi dinar (over $1.3 million) compensation package for families affected by severe flooding in Chamchamal district began on Monday, officials announced.

The Chamchamal Relief and Reconstruction Commission is overseeing the cash distribution, which will continue for two days and initially cover 639 families. Ata Mohammed, head of the commission and chief of staff to Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, stated the process is transparent and conducted in the presence of all relevant parties.

"Families are compensated depending on the scale of the damage they have seen," Mohammed told Rudaw.

The floods followed three days of heavy rainfall across the Kurdistan Region and parts of Iraq more than a week ago. Preliminary reports from the Joint Crisis Coordination Center (JCC) recorded at least five deaths, 19 injuries, and damage to 2,225 homes in the Region and Kirkuk province.

Chamchamal district was the area hardest hit. The JCC reported two fatalities, 12 injuries, and widespread damage: approximately 1,607 homes damaged, 200 vehicles destroyed, 115 shops and workplaces affected, and 450 projects impacted.

A significant portion of the relief funds—exceeding 7 billion dinars (around $5.3 million)—was raised through a fundraising campaign led by Rudaw's program Lagal Ranj ("With Ranj"), presented by anchor Ranj Sangawi. Sangawi launched the drive shortly after the disaster, telling viewers, “Today’s program is not With Ranj, but rather With the People.”

To date, fundraising efforts have garnered over $8.7 million, primarily from Kurdish businessmen, with a dedicated website allowing the public to track donations in real time. Mohammed confirmed that deposits are ongoing and a final total has not been determined.

Officials opted for cash compensation to allow families to purchase household items based on their specific needs.

Rudaw’s representative on the commission, Ali Jaff, provided a breakdown of the first-phase allocations:

Day 1: 639 families to receive 861,345,000 dinars.
Day 2: 445 families in Sorsh sub-district to receive 772,377,000 dinars.
Additionally, 210 families in Takiya will get 248,220,000 dinars, and six families in Aghjalar will receive 6,300,000 dinars.