Migration: Sulaymaniyah will be free of camps within days

Baghdad - INA

The Ministry of Migration and Displacement confirmed, today, Saturday, that the announcement of the evacuation of Sulaymaniyah Governorate from camps is imminent, and while it indicated that no security breaches were recorded in any area to which the displaced returned, it clarified the numbers of those remaining. 

The Undersecretary of the Ministry, Karim Al-Nouri, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The decision to set the end of July as the final date for closing the camps for the displaced is a government decision numbered 24007 and is part of the government program," indicating that "the ministry has mobilized all its cadres to make the project of returning the displaced to their areas a success."

He added that "the issue of returning the displaced is an official, humanitarian and moral demand, and all the complications and difficulties have been overcome." He continued, "We started a full survey of the displaced and they were given a voluntary choice between returning to their areas or choosing another area," noting that "there is a response and large numbers wish to return on an ongoing basis.".

Regarding the displaced in Sinjar, Al-Nouri explained that "some of the people of Sinjar had concerns and they were responded to and resolved and they disappeared, and we are determined to close the file so that Iraq is free of camps." He stated that "the ministry, within its capabilities, has allocated 4 million dinars as a grant for those who decide to return, and there are other projects related to the issue of durable goods and issues such as home furniture for returnees, and the ministry is seeking to achieve this matter.".

He explained that "the most prominent obstacles that stood in the way of the return of the displaced were the demolished houses, job opportunities and tribal conflicts, but after great efforts and the government's interest in this file, all these obstacles were overcome and there is no justification for not returning.".

Regarding the remaining numbers, he explained that "only 16 thousand families remain out of 850 thousand families as a result of the events of the terrorist ISIS gangs in 2014," noting that "within days we will announce the closure of the camps in Sulaymaniyah with the departure of the last displaced person, leaving only 16 camps in Dohuk and 6 in Erbil." He explained that, "Before returning the displaced, we begin by visiting the areas, dignitaries and clans, where we found a desire from all families and clans for their return," noting that, "no security breach was recorded in all the areas to which the displaced returned."