WATCH: Kurdistan very hospitable to IDPs, says Relief International

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been very hospitable to refugees and the internally displaced persons (IDPs) regardless of their ethnic and religious background, said Relief International CEO on Wednesday.

In an interview with Kurdistan24, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Relief International Nancy Wilson pointed out that they have done many activities around economic development in the Kurdistan Region, particularly increasing women’s access to economic opportunities.

“We’ve been honored to be able to be serving the communities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq for many years,” Wilson continued. “We have always been very grateful that the Kurdish government [KRG] made us welcomed, and also encouraged our work with a broad range of people.”

She mentioned that the organization’s attention now has turned to fulfill the needs of the refugees and IDPs in the Kurdistan Region.

Kurdistan is home to 1.8 million refugees and IDPs that have mostly fled from other parts of Iraq after the emergence of the Islamic State (IS) in the country in June 2014.

“Kurdistan Region has been very hospitable to refugees from all different backgrounds, ethnicity, and religious preferences,” Wilson said.

Moreover, she stated that the KRG’s hospitality has made a collaborative environment with the humanitarian organizations to aid IDPs and refugees residing in the Region.

Relief International collaborates with other local and international organizations in the Kurdistan Region to provide humanitarian services to the displaced people.

Wilson believes that it is critical to continue the work to ensure the IDPs do not lose hope for their future.

Editing by Ava Homa
(Kurdistan24 team in Washington conducted the interview)