The lives of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in the Kurdistan Region are harsh and disheartening. In IDP and refugee camps, most residents live in tents that fail to protect them from the winter cold and summer heat. This situation is particularly difficult for women and children, who lack basic services and entertainment.
Each tent shelters the story of a life they did not choose. For children in the camps, riding mini motorcycles and playing football and hide-and-seek are their only sources of joy. They see no glimmer of hope for their future, nor any signs of reconstruction or peace in the areas from which they fled.
Following the rise of ISIS in 2014, hundreds of thousands of IDPs from various parts of Iraqi relocated to the Kurdistan Region. Additionally, the dire situation in Syria drove hundreds of thousands of refugees to Kurdistan, where they settled in camps, cities, and communities.
Yet, over seven years since the defeat of ISIS in Iraq, dozens of refugee and IDP camps remain in the Kurdistan Region, housing tens of thousands of families who are unwilling to return due to the lack of security and services in their areas of origin.
A staggering situation
The number of IDPs and refugees in the Kurdistan Region has exceeded two million, surpassing the local population in provinces like Duhok. Despite the fall of ISIS, the hope for rebuilding and establishing security and peace in these areas remains unfulfilled, leaving many preferring camp life over unstable conditions without essential services.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), despite facing budget cuts and ISIS attacks, has shouldered the burden of providing as many services as possible to IDPs and refugees. International leaders, including Pope Francis, have praised Kurdistan for its hospitality and support.
According to the KRG’s 2024 Humanitarian Situation Report No. 7, the latest statistics are as follows:
Number of Camps: There are 30 IDP and refugee camps in Kurdistan: 19 in Duhok, 10 in Erbil, and one in Sulaymaniyah.
Current Population: Over one million refugees live in the Kurdistan Region.
Families in Camps:
- Erbil: 11,056 families (51,386 people)
- Duhok: 35,557 families (170,808 people)
- Sulaymaniyah: 2,256 families (9,566 people)
Families Outside Camps:
- Erbil: 60,360 families (331,935 people)
- Duhok: 48,981 families (266,232 people)
- Sulaymaniyah: 26,832 families (153,781 people)
The KRG needs $938 million annually to meet the needs of IDPs and refugees. Meanwhile, the Iraqi federal government has decided to close all IDP camps by July 30, offering each returning family four million Iraqi dinars (approximately $3,000).
What will happen?
This decision has caused concern among IDPs, especially those from Sinjar, who feel their homeland lacks the necessary conditions for a normal life. Many areas remain unsafe due to landmines, the presence of ISIS sleeper cells, and a lack of essential services. The KRG has assured IDPs that they are free to return or remain in the camps, without any compulsion.
However, the Iraqi federal government has also pressured organizations to reduce their aid, with a 70% decrease in assistance. Currently, the KRG funds and coordinates key services provided to the camps, including garbage collection, water supply, education, and health.
During the conflict with ISIS and other instances of regional violence, the Kurdish people have demonstrated remarkable hospitality and support, making Kurdistan a refuge for nearly two million IDPs and refugees. This hospitality has been recognized globally, with Pope Francis visiting Kurdistan in 2021 and holding a major religious ceremony in Erbil, expressing gratitude to the Kurdish people and the KRG.
In recent months, IDPs have been hesitant about the Iraqi federal government’s forced return deadline of July 30. However, the KRG Minster of Interior Rebar Ahmed Khalid emphasized that IDPs are free to decide, and KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has pressured the Iraqi federal government to reconsider its decision. The KRG has submitted several proposals to the Iraqi federal government to improve the living conditions of IDPs.
The future of IDPs and refugees in the Kurdistan Region remains uncertain and precarious. Despite the KRG's efforts to provide essential services and support, the immense financial burden and lack of international aid make it challenging to sustain these efforts. The Iraqi federal government's decision to close IDP camps and the insufficient support for returning families exacerbate the situation, leaving many IDPs and refugees in limbo.
Without significant international intervention and a committed effort from the Iraqi government to improve security and services in the areas of origin, the prospect for a stable and dignified life for IDPs and refugees remains bleak. The international community must step up its support, both financially and diplomatically, to ensure that these vulnerable populations are not abandoned. The resilience and hospitality of the Kurdish people should be matched by a global commitment to aid and reconstruction, providing a glimmer of hope for a better future for IDPs and refugees in Kurdistan.
