The Kurdistan Region announces regulatory instructions for the affairs of asylum seekers

ARK News.. The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government confirmed that the Kurdistan Regional Government bore the greatest burden in hosting refugees and displaced persons, stressing the continuation of efforts to protect and shelter thousands of refugees and displaced persons, explaining that the Kurdistan Region will remain an example of generous hospitality and a safe haven for all who seek refuge there to escape injustice and seek safety.

Masrour Barzani's statements came during his participation, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in the ceremony announcing the regulatory instructions for the affairs of asylum seekers in the Kurdistan Region, which was attended by the US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, and the acting representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani delivered a speech in which he welcomed the audience, and pointed out that the region has embraced, over many years, without any religious, national, or ethnic discrimination, thousands of people who sought refuge in it for safety, explaining that this came at a time when the region was facing difficult circumstances and a Financially crisis, especially during ISIS attacks. He stressed that the Kurdistan Regional Government bore the responsibility of hosting dozens of refugee camps, and continues to fulfil its obligations, despite the great burden of this responsibility.

The Prime Minister confirmed that the Kurdistan Region continues its efforts to protect and shelter thousands of refugees and displaced people who fled due to fear and lack of security and peace in their regions. He stressed that no one wants to live under displacement and asylum, stressing that the regional government always supports the voluntary return of all displaced people and refugees to their homes and places with dignity, after normalizing the conditions in their homes.

The Prime Minister indicated that the Regional Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has been working for some time to prepare and formulate administrative instructions to regulate refugee affairs, indicating that these instructions are part of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s administrative and legal plans, to guarantee the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. Determine their duties. He expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Interior and the team that prepared these instructions in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The Prime Minister reiterated that the Kurdistan Region will remain, as it has always been, an example of hospitality and a safe haven for all who seek safety from injustice, oppression, terrorism, intimidation and repression. He explained that the Kurdistan Regional Government is striving to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers have access to basic public services, such as education, health care, security and protection, in addition to meeting all their living needs.

The Prime Minister expressed his hope that the federal government and the international community would help the Kurdistan Region provide more support to refugees and displaced persons, enabling them to return to their original homes in dignity when conditions become conducive to doing so.

The representative of the United Nations High Commissioner and the American Ambassador delivered speeches during the ceremony about embracing refugees and displaced persons and other files related to mechanisms for supporting and assisting refugees and displaced persons. The ceremony concluded with the signing of administrative instructions by the Minister of Interior of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Rebar Ahmed.

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