PHOTOS: UAE opens IDP camp in Erbil

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – On Saturday, the UAE emphasized on reiterating humanitarian assistance to the Kurdistan Region, which is home to almost two million refugees and IDPs.

The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Red Crescent opened a camp for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Erbil that consists of 632 houses. The camp includes schools, hospitals and playgrounds for kids.

The UAE Consul General in Erbil Rashid Mohammed al-Mansouri, popular Arab singer and Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Hussain al-Jassmi, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Interior Minister Karim Sinjari, Head of Department of Foreign Relations Falah Mustafa Bakir and Erbil Governor Nawzad Hadi attended the official unveiling of the project.

Jassmi told Kurdistan24 that the relations between the UAE and the KRG date back years ago. “Today, we are very pleased to be in Erbil, extending our humanitarian assistance. We will continue our projects and humanitarian aid to Kurdistan,” he affirmed.

Moreover, Sinjari told Kurdistan24 that the camp provides all basic needs. “The camp consists of hospitals, a water project, schools, mosques…The camp is full quality from all aspects,” he said.

Sinjari praised the camp and mentioned it as a very important and crucial project in Erbil as the Kurdistan Region is experiencing an economic crisis.

Emirates Red Crescent has previously provided more than 1000 homes to refugees in the Region by contributing in Dibaga and Bahrka refugee camps located in Erbil.

The Kurdistan Region is currently home to almost two million IDPs and refugees who fled from Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) and other parts of Iraq.

KRG officials continue encouraging the international community to provide more humanitarian aid to the Region as it is the very first front line fighting against the Islamic State (IS) and suffers from a critical financial crisis.

Reporting by Mewan Dolamari
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

Photos: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso