KRG: We do not force IDPs back to Anbar
Military operations against the Islamic State (IS) extremists in Anbar province is still ongoing while Kurdish officials discuss returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their home cities.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Military operations against the Islamic State (IS) extremists in Anbar province is still ongoing while Kurdish officials discuss returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their home cities.
Anbar governor, Suhaib al-Rawy, told Kurdistan24 that Iraqi security forces have taken necessary measures to retake the areas of western Anbar province from the IS occupation.
“It is clear for everyone that Anbar province is significantly damaged. Now we are working with the Non-governmental organizations and the international community to mobilize resources to rebuild the province,” Rawy said.
Rawy added that "There are three districts in the western side of Ramadi that are still under the control of IS, constituting 20 percent of province, where residents make up 25 percent of the population.”
On May 17, 2015, IS declared its full control over the city of Ramadi in Anbar province. On December 28, 2015, Iraqi government announced that the army liberated the strategically important city of Ramadi. By then the city had been occupied by the IS for seven months.
Due to the ongoing fights in Anbar province, many fled to the safety of Kurdistan Region. Governor of Erbil, Nawzad Hadi says as the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) they are ready to help the IDPs return to their areas.
“As the KRG warmly welcomed the IDPs during the hard times, we are now ready in coordination with Anbar governor, to help the displaced people from Anbar and all other provinces,” Hadi told a Kurdistan24 reporter.
Hadi added that the KRG does not force the IDPs to return to their areas, considering the volatile situation. “The IDPs themselves and the local government in Anbar will decide on the returning of IDPs to their place of origin.”
Elsewhere, the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement announced that so far more than 48 thousand of displaced families have returned to their homes in Anbar province.
Editing by Ava Homa
(Bargasht Akrayie from Erbil contributed to this report)
