Kurdistan's IDP Camps' Closure in Federal Court

Reports 01:11 PM - 2024-04-21

On of the IDP camps in Kurdistan

The Iraqi Federal Court is set to consider a legal case brought by the Iraqi Minister of Migration and Displacement over preventing the internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in the Kurdistan Region from going back to their homes. The Iraqi Minister of Migration and Displacement expressed their commitment to the deadline established by the Iraqi Council of Ministers for the repatriation of IDPs residing in the Kurdistan Region back to their original residences.

Compared to Erbil and Duhok, things have been facilitated in Sulaymaniyah

Samer Mashkur, director of the Kurdistan Region's provinces department of the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement, told PUKMEDIA: "We are receiving more assistance and facilitations in Sulaymaniyah province than in Erbil and Duhok, which is due to the fact that the camps in Erbil and Duhok are under the control of the Interior Ministry of the Kurdistan Regional Government."

"The Iraqi government will offer each returning IDP family a sum of four million dinars, along with a refrigerator, a television, and a stove, as well as various facilitations. Our aim is to resolve this matter by July 1, 2024, as there is no longer any danger to their lives in their original places of residence," stated Mashkur.

Iraq encourages the return of IDPs

Ronzi Ziad Sido, the head of the Migration and Refugees Committee in the Iraqi parliament, informed PUKMEDIA that the Ministry of Migration and Displaced will assist in enabling the IDPs to go back to their homes, and within this particular setting, a decision has been made to provide incentives which consists of four million dinars, a plot of land, and job opportunities within the ministries.

"The Iraqi government emphasises the return of the IDPs to their original residences and is actively working towards offering essential services and facilitating the rehabilitation of their communities," said Ziad.

There are 30,000 displaced families in the Kurdistan Region

According to the director of the Kurdistan Region's provincial section of the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement, there are around 30,000 refugee families still residing in 22 camps in the Kurdistan Region, including 16 in Duhok, five in Erbil and one in Sulaymaniyah.

The Migration Minister has filed a lawsuit

The Federal Court is scheduled to meet on Sunday April 21, 2024, to resolve a complaint filed by Ivan Fayeq, Iraqi Minister of Migration and Displacement, against the Kurdistan Region's President, Prime Minister and Interior Minister.

The complaint seeks to ensure that the requirements of the internally displaced families are fulfilled and their hardships are alleviated. It also calls for the camps to be shut down and for the voluntary return of the IDPs to be carried out promptly, in accordance with the decisions made by the Iraqi Council of Ministers.

Minister of Migration and Displacement: IDPs must return to their homes without delay

Iraqi Migration Minister Ivan Fayeq Jabro previously stated: "We are committed to the prime minister's decision and the IDPs living in the camps in the Kurdistan Region must return to their homes in time and without delay, especially now that security in the province of Nineveh is well maintained."

 

The deadline has been set

 

The Iraqi Council of Ministers had initially intended to return all IDPs to their homes by June 30. However, the deadline was extended to July 30 to allow for school examinations.

Returning the IDPs residing in the Kurdistan Region is ongoing. However, the Minister of Migration and Displacement has lodged a case in the Federal Court, citing impediments to the return of IDPs in the provinces of Erbil and Duhok.

 

PUKMEDIA