Masrour Barzani calls authorities to help BCF deliver aid to civilians in Afrin

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) on Monday called on relevant authorities to help deliver humanitarian aid to affected civilians in the Kurdish enclave of Afrin, northwestern of Syria.

The Erbil-based BCF held its annual conference in the capital of the Kurdistan Region, with many Kurdish and foreign officials present at the event.

Masrour Barzani, the head of the BCF’s Board of Founders, which directly oversees the operation of the foundation, stated that the BCF is ready to send humanitarian aid to all people who are in need of immediate assistance.

He requested concerned authorities help the BCF deliver aid to civilians in Afrin, a predominant Kurdish region in the Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) which is currently enduring an ongoing Turkish military campaign to oust Kurdish fighters.  

Barzani explained that following the emergence of the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq in 2014, the BCF opened its arms to all displaced people who had to leave their homes because of terror threats and fled to the Kurdistan Region.

“The BCF delivers aid to all displaced people regardless of their ethnic, religious or political backgrounds,” Barzani said.

He mentioned that with more than 1.5 million refugees and internally displaced people seeking safety in the Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi Federal Government had failed to embrace them and provide sufficient aid and basic services.

“In the absence of Iraqi government’s support and responsibility to its people, the BCF embraced and directly administrated 14 camps in the Kurdistan Region, providing all basic needs,” he added, highlighting the foundation’s assistance to displaced Ezidis and Christians in the country.

The BCF is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit organization founded in 2005 in Erbil.

The Foundation was named after the legendary Kurdish leader, Mulla Mustafa Barzani (1903 -1979). The working philosophy of the foundation is based on a statement by Barzani, saying, “It is a privilege to serve one’s own people.”

Additionally, the BCF has delivered aid to affected people in Kurdish-populated cities in Turkey such as Wan and Cizire, as well as Kurdish cities in Rojava, including Kobani and Qamishlo.

Barzani thanked the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for contributing to the IDPs and refugees in the Kurdistan Region through the BCF.

The BCF was granted a Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) during the organization’s meeting in April 2016.

Editing by Nadia Riva