Kurdistan Regional Government
Representation in the United States
Washington D.C.
Welcome to our 2021 Quarterly Humanitarian Bulletin: Q1
USAID provides KRG with medical, laboratory supplies to fight COVID-19. The US Consul General in Erbil, Rob Waller, alongside KRG Health Minister Saman Barzinji, January 13, 2021. (Photo: US Consulate General)
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq continues to host the largest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in Iraq. According to Kurdistan Regional Government's Joint Crisis Coordination Center (KRG-JCC), 930,635 displaced people are registered with the KRG, of whom 671,238 are IDPs, and 259,397 are refugees. Of the refugees, 239,476 are from Syrian Kurdistan, 8,551 from Kurdistan of Turkey, 10,572 from Kurdistan of Iran, 713 Palestine, and 85 from elsewhere.

The vast majority of the IDPs and refugees, 635,466, live outside of camps, within the host communities in Kurdistan, while about 275,248 reside in 35 camps across the three provinces: 41% of the total displaced population live in Erbil, 41% in Duhok, and 18% in Slemani. Although 37,139 IDPs returned to their places of origin in 2020, more than 6,113 IDPs and refugees have returned back to the Kurdistan Region—1,037 in January 2021 and 5,076 throughout 2020—because of the uncertain security situation, lack of job opportunities, poor living conditions, and the cold season.

Moreover, the Yazidi community continues to experience hardship. Thirteen Yazidis have committed suicide this year. The suicides are believed to be linked to the trauma caused by the Yazidi genocide at the hands of ISIS, the difficult living conditions inside the camps, lack of prospects for the future, and economic and social problems. Additionally, the Iraqi government's closure of IDP camps in the areas under its jurisdiction has further exacerbated the lives of thousands of Yazidis in the Sinjar region. The security threats from the hostile regional militias and remnants of ISIS remain a major impediment for their safe return to their homes in Sinjar and the surrounding areas.
HIGHLIGHTS

COVID-19 Cases in Kurdistan:
Confirmed: 107,933
Recovered: 103,011
Active: 1,414
Total deaths: 3,508

A total of 930,635 refugees and IDPs are registered in the Kurdistan Region. 

635,466 IDPs and refugees live outside of camps, while 275,248 reside in 35 camps across the Kurdistan Region.

More than 6,113 IDPs returned to Kurdistan Region since 2020, while 37,139 returned to their place of origin and/or left the country.

More than half of the displaced people are women and children.

Source: KRG-JCC & KRG Coronavirus Dashboard
The number of IDPs and Syrian refugees in Erbil, Duhok, and Slemani governorates
The number and origin of the refugee population in the Kurdistan Region
KRG's Joint Crisis Coordination Center
Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 cases in the Kurdistan Region has reached 107,933 confirmed cases across Erbil, Slemani, Duhok, and Halabja governorates, of which 103,011 have recovered, and 3,508 have died. A new COVID-19 variant was detected in the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province on January 13 from a person who had returned from the United Kingdom. As of February 21, the health authorities have detected 19 cases of the UK-mutated COVID-19 in the Kurdistan Region. Consequently, the KRG has placed a travel ban to 21 countries, effective on January 15, 2021, to control the spread of coronavirus's new variant to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 

Accordingly, Iraqi nationals cannot travel from the Kurdistan Region to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, the UK, the USA, Zambia, and the Netherlands. Additionally, foreign nationals coming from the countries mentioned above will not be allowed to enter the Kurdistan Region, except diplomats and official delegations, the staff of United Nations (UN) organizations, International Organizations, and the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS). However, the exempted categories must be approved by the Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Interior first before traveling. 

Baghdad's continued withholding of the KRG's share of the federal budget, coupled with the pandemic and the deep economic recession, have caused hardship to the local population and displaced people inside the Kurdistan Region and the disputed territories. The cost of providing essential services to nearly 1 million IDPs and refugees in Kurdistan is about $871 million per year, $72 million per month, and $2.4 million per day. The KRG has been shouldering about 70% of the costs, but the current economic situation has constrained KRG's ability to appropriately meet the IDPs' and refugees' needs. The KRG calls on the United States and the international community to provide greater assistance during this crisis to adequately maintain the well-being, security, and stability of the displaced people.

To learn more about the humanitarian situation or how you can help support vulnerable communities in Kurdistan, please contact Delovan Barwari, Director of Public and Humanitarian Affairs at the KRG Representation in the United States: delovan.barwari@us.gov.krd. 
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