Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday called for the timely and full payment of public sector salaries in the Kurdistan Region, and an investigation into drone strikes that have targeted energy infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region.

Baghdad has been withholding funds for the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) public sector salaries since May, HRW said.

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Last Friday, salary distributions for the month of May were delivered, after a deal was reached between Erbil and Baghdad. However, June and July salaries are still pending.

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HRW also said that the federal Iraqi and KRG authorities should investigate the nearly 20 drone strikes that were carried out on the Kurdistan Region, and prevent further attacks on energy infrastructure.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the strikes, Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, blamed “criminal militias on the Iraqi government payroll.” 

“Deliberate damage to oil infrastructure could cause serious ripple effects for residents’ access to public services,” said Sarah Sanbar, Iraq researcher at HRW. “Adding insult to injury, thousands of teachers, doctors, and nurses can’t pay for everyday expenses because their salaries are being held hostage to political bickering.

Baghdad withholding public sector salaries has directly affected the quality and provision of essential public services, including healthcare and education, HRW said. 

The drone strikes also threaten the Kurdistan Region’s energy infrastructure and directly affect access to electricity, HRW said.

HRW underlined that Iraq, as a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, is obligated to uphold the right to an adequate standard of living, including timely wages, health, and education.