Rights group: Situation in Shingal worsened after Peshmerga, PKK clashes

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region’s Human Rights Committee on Saturday said the displaced people who returned to Sinjar (Shingal) were affected by the clashes between Peshmerga forces and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) affiliates.

Mohammed Gomashini, the spokesperson of the Region’s Human Rights Committee, said he was concerned about the situation of the liberated areas as displaced people faced difficulties returning home.

Gomashini added that some of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) had previously returned to their original homes with hopes of restarting a regular life.

However, he explained the clashes between the two Kurdish forces had worsened the situation of IDPs in the area.

On March 3, clashes erupted between Peshmerga and the PKK-affiliated armed-wing in the Khanasor area of northwestern Shingal, resulting in casualties on both sides.

The Human Rights Committee called for a solution to the situation in the Khanasor and Shingal areas for the sake of the affected people, according to Gomashini.

“All military forces currently present in the Shingal area should be under the command of the Peshmerga Ministry,” he stated.

Cooperation would contribute to the stabilization and improvement of security in the area, according to Gomashini.

Moreover, it would ensure people from those areas were able to return home without fear of being displaced again, he added.

The spokesperson of the Human Rights Committee called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) authorities in Shingal to rebuild the areas.

The Region officials accuse the PKK forces and affiliates of being a barrier to the stability and development of the Ezidi-populated areas, urging them to leave Shingal.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany