Politics

Baghdad flight ban could impact aid to Kurdistan

Humanitarian aid groups fear Baghdad’s decision to impose a flight ban could have a “dire impact” on the lives of refugees and displaced persons in the Kurdistan Region.

Karzan Sulaivany 2017/10/01 15:34

kurdistan Independence Referendum Kurdistan Referendum Flight Ban Iraq Baghdad Erbil Baghdad Relations IDPs Islamic State ISIS Refugees

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Humanitarian aid groups fear Baghdad’s decision to impose a flight ban could have a “dire impact” on the lives of refugees and displaced persons in the Kurdistan Region.

The flight cancellations, which were imposed by the Federal Government of Iraq on Friday, were in retaliation to the historic independence referendum where 92.7 percent voted for secession from Iraq.

Since the emergence of the Islamic State (IS) in 2014, the Region has housed over 1.8 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees fleeing the militant group from parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria.

Moussa Ahmed, the president of the Barzani Charity Foundation, while speaking to Voices of America said local aid groups require international support to operate fully.

The Barzani Charity Foundation runs 14 of the 52 camps in Kurdistan as well as several others large humanitarian projects in the Region.

Most of the support, which includes supplies and funding, comes through Kurdistan’s international airports in the provinces of Erbil and Sulaimani.

“Since the battles began, Kurdistan has been a home for people who need a safe place,” Ahmed said. “Some of the punishment the Iraqi government is talking about will harm their own people.”

While the extremist group is on its last leg in Iraq, including with the most recent launch of the operation to retake the city of Hawija, aid workers say families continue to flee areas under IS control.

War-torn regions once held by IS—now liberated by Kurdish and Iraqi forces—are still missing essential services such as water and electricity.

Baghdad’s decision to impose a flight ban in Kurdistan, a move the Kurdistan leadership and the airport authorities strongly criticized, will directly impact aid groups providing care for IDPs and refugees who have escaped poverty only to be faced with the prospect of further adversity.

“The imposition of a ‘no-fly zone’ for Kurdistan’s airports will bring hardship to the region,” the Erbil International Airport’s Director-General said on Thursday.

The US State Department was also critical of Baghdad’s ultimatum, calling for constructive engagement and dialogue with Kurdistan.

Editing by G.H. Renaud