Politics

KRG Interior Minister highlights significance of Sinjar’s liberation as symbol of resistance led by Peshmerga forces

He detailed the KRG's efforts to support the Yezidi community, including the establishment of 15 camps housing 140,000 refugees, and the provision of essential services to tens of thousands living outside these camps.

Kurdistan 24 Digital Media 2024/08/03 21:39

KRG Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed delivering a speech in Germany, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo: Kurdistan24)

Kurdistan Yezidis Rebar Ahmed KDP President Masoud Barzani Peshmerga forces

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The 10th anniversary of the Yezidi genocide was commemorated in Germany, with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed delivering a speech.

“When ISIS took control of Nineveh and attacked Sinjar, thousands of Yezidis fled to the mountains, while thousands of women were taken hostage,” Minister Ahmed recounted. He described the genocide as a dark chapter in modern history, noting that the enslavement of Yezidi women deeply impacted the global conscience.

Minister Ahmed highlighted the significance of Sinjar’s liberation, a symbol of resistance led by the Peshmerga forces under the supervision of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani. He detailed the KRG's efforts to support the Yezidi community, including the establishment of 15 camps housing 140,000 refugees, and the provision of essential services to tens of thousands living outside these camps.

The KRG has also established an office dedicated to rescuing Yezidis, having registered 6,000 individuals and successfully reunited 3,400 with their families. Last month, the Kurdistan Region Prime Minister announced a financial assistance program for about 3,000 ISIS survivors, ensuring they receive a monthly salary.

Minister Ahmed emphasized the KRG's commitment to collecting and analyzing evidence of the atrocities against the Yezidis. He noted an agreement with the Iraqi government aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding Sinjar, though he criticized the Iraqi government for its lack of implementation. He urged the German government to refrain from repatriating Yezidis until their homeland was secure and rehabilitated.

He reaffirmed the KRG’s dedication to supporting nearly one million refugees, pledging continued shelter until they can safely return home. The Interior Minister concluded by advocating for the preservation of Yezidi areas free from demographic changes, asserting, “The Kurdistan Region will always remain a haven for those fleeing violence.”