Canadian organizations, including Rainfresh, help support internally displaced Iraqis affected by conflict

Canadian organizations, including Rainfresh, help support internally displaced Iraqis affected by conflict

Minister Jason Kenney (right) and GlobalMedic Executive Director Rahul Singh (left) holding Rainfresh household water purification units at our headquarters in Richmond Hill, ON. Picture provided by DFATD and MAECD.

On Saturday morning, the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister for National Defence and Multiculturalism, visited our factory just north of Toronto in Richmond Hill, where he announced $1 million in humanitarian assistance funding to GlobalMedic. He visited on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie.

Eleven pallet packed with 2,000 of our gravity ceramic water purification units. These units will be distributed in Iraq to thousands of internally displaced families. These units will allow them to access reliable and bacteria-free water for drinking, cooking and washing. The filters are portable, lightweight and can supply safe drinking water from virtually any water source, including dirty lakes, ponds, rivers and wells. No electricity, pumping or chemicals are necessary – the system works solely using gravity.

In addition to our water purification systems, Canada’s funding for GlobalMedic is also sending thousands of sanitation kits, including soap, diapers and wet wipes, and hygiene educators to help prevent illness.

This isn’t the first time that we have collaborated with GlobalMedic to help families in Iraq. Just months ago, we sent our Rainfresh AquaResponse AR10 emergency response water treatment system to Khanaqeen, which not only removes dirt and organics, but also destroys water-borne bacteria, viruses and parasitic cysts . This system alone produces enough water to hydrate a community of over 20,000 people daily!

To learn more about our projects overseas, search the hashtag #RainfreshHelps!



A cyst is a resting stage of a parasite that helps it tide over unfavourable environmental conditions. When the parasite reaches favourable conditions (such as the human intestine), the cyst wall breaks and the microbe causes illness. Commonly known cysts are Giardia Lamblia and Cryptosporidium. They are present in stagnant waters such as dug wells, lakes, ponds and other surface waters. Cysts cause illnesses such as Giardiasis (commonly called Beaver Fever), stomach cramps, fever, diarrhea, etc.

Cysts are resistant to chlorination, the most common disinfection method used by municipalities. As such, it is possible to have cyst contamination even in chlorinated (municipally treated) water supplies. Physical removal of cysts from water by filtration is the most effective way of preventing illnesses from cyst. Rainfresh Drinking Water system 1, 2 and 3 are tested and certified for reduction of cyst from water.