THE founder of a relief charity close to completing his first mission to help thousands of refugees has spoken of their daily plight from the war zone.

Ravinder Singh is set to return from Iraq tomorrow (Saturday) after spending time in refugee camps in northern Iraq helping the hundreds of thousands of people forced from their homes as war rages between the Islamic State (ISIS) and the Kurdish Pashmerga forces.

Mr Singh, who is the CEO of Slough-based humanitarian charity Khalsa Aid, flew to Iraq on Tuesday last week, and extended his stay on Friday for a further week to continue his work.

Speaking to The Observer from Erbil on Wednesday, Mr Singh said of the difficulties facing the thousands of people who have fled their homes.

“We went to the main refugee area in Duhok where there is around 600,000 refugees,” he said.

“It is 20km from the Syrian border and it is one of the driest places I have ever been to. There is such a lack of drinking water and it is very hot.” Mr Singh, from Langley, also spoke of how refugees took shelter in construction sites and buildings in both Duhok and Erbil, and how at every opportunity he has been providing people and young families with milk, water and food.

Plans are under way for bakeries and water stations to be constructed in the refugee camps to provide food and water.

He said: “These people are so gentle. They have courage beyond courage.

“The worst thing though is that their enemies have got turbans and beards. And there is me going into the camp, and they think a turban and beard is the devil.

“So I have got to be careful and wear an extra-blue turban so I don’t get mistaken [with the black of ISIS].” Mr Singh was due to spring two surprises on children in Erbil yesterday (Thursday).

He was going to provide a new wheelchair for 15-year-old Julius, whose wheelchair is too small, and also a teddy bear for a young girl who missed out on donations handed out.

“All of these things are what people take for granted. They are real people who have lost so much,” he said.

Mr Singh will be replaced in Iraq by another volunteer from the charity who will fly out next week.

“We are a small organisation,” he said. “That is shocking for so many people. But I do not see any other organisations out here. They are shirking away from their responsibility.”