Italy vows more aid for displaced, earthquake victims in Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Italian authorities on Thursday sent additional humanitarian aid to displaced families and those affected by the powerful earthquake that hit the border areas of the Kurdistan Region and Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat) last month.

Serena Moroni, the Italian Consul in Kurdistan, told Kurdistan 24 her country had delivered aid to about 200 displaced families, including those affected by the earthquake, adding Italy would “send more aid.”

The support included tents, blankets, clothing, and other humanitarian supplies needed for families who are currently struggling to deal with low winter temperatures.

On Nov. 12, nine people were killed and hundreds injured in the Region after a 7.3-magnitude quake hit cities in eastern Kurdistan and Rojhilat where hundreds more died due to the natural disaster.

Thousands of people were affected by the earthquake, which caused damage to homes and properties especially in the border areas between Kurdistan and Rojhilat.

The Kurdistan Region has also received nearly 1.8 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since the emergence of the Islamic State (IS) in parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria.

Additionally, nearly 180,000 people have sought refuge in the Region following Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militias attack and takeover of Kirkuk and other disputed territories on Oct. 16.

Editing by Nadia Riva