WATCH: Peshmerga on the front lines receive roses on Valentine’s day
A volunteer who was distributing flowers said the purpose of the trip was to show the people’s gratitude.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – To mark Valentine’s Day in a special manner, an international organization and a local school expressed their gratitude and respect for Peshmerga fighters by distributing flowers on the front lines.
The European Citizen Interference Group (ECIG) along with volunteers from the American International School of Kurdistan visited the Khazir front line and gave roses to Peshmerga, thanking them for their sacrifices in protecting the Kurdistan Region and fighting the Islamic State (IS).
“From the bottom of our hearts, we say thank you, Peshmerga heroes!” read a banner they carried while visiting the Peshmerga front.
Kovan Farhad, the deputy head of the ECIG, told Kurdistan 24 they wanted to express their respect and appreciation for the Peshmerga fighters in a novel way.
“We have brought two European doctors to the Kurdistan Region who have volunteered to provide medical treatment to Peshmerga requiring heart-related care,” Farhad said, thanking the SOLAR organization for sponsoring the project.
The Peshmerga have been one of the most effective ground forces in the fight against IS over the past few years. The Kurdish fighters stopped and repelled the advance of the jihadist group in 2014 after the Iraqi army collapsed and failed to defend the country.
Since 2014, over 1,800 Peshmerga have fallen, and 12,000 more were injured in combat, according to Peshmerga Ministry.
“We thank them very much for visiting us and giving us flowers. We reiterate our promise to all people of the Kurdistan Region that we will protect this land from all threats,” a Peshmerga told Kurdistan 24. “A land of coexistence with a place for every different ethnic and religious group.”
A volunteer who was distributing flowers said the purpose of the trip was to show the people’s gratitude.
“It is a very simple thing to do, but we wanted to show them that we are thankful and that their sacrifices will never be forgotten,” a volunteer told Kurdistan 24 while handing out roses.
Valentine’s Day has gained a lot of popularity among people in the Kurdistan Region in recent years.
Editing by Nadia Riva