US helps refugees, IDPs in Kurdistan Region

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – The US Consulate, in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and local NGOs in Erbil, distributed winter relief supplies to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on Monday.

The US Embassy in Baghdad published a report on its official Facebook page stating: "The US Consulate in Erbil...distributed relief items such as kerosene heaters, plastic sheeting, blankets and towels, to nearly 1,300 people—approximately 200 households—at the Gazna informal settlement in Erbil for individuals who have been displaced as a result of the fight against Da’esh [IS].”

According to the report, more than one thousand trucks transported roughly two million items valued at nearly $70 million to help people cope with the winter weather, particularly in Kurdistan Region.

“The American people have provided more than $603 million in life-saving assistance to [Iraqis] since the start of the crisis,” the report concluded.

According to the official statistics, Kurdistan Region is home to over 1.8 million refugees and IDPs.

The vast number of refugees and IDPs has been an immense financial burden to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) as it struggles from an economic crisis, Islamic State (IS) war, and a decrease in global oil prices.  

Kurdish officials have frequently called on the international community to provide more humanitarian aid to Kurdistan Region. Combined, refugees and IDPs make-up nearly 25 percent of the Region’s population.

Reporting by Baxtiyar Goran and Mewan Dolamari 

Editing by Benjamin Kweskin and Karzan Sulaivany