Latest news with #MinistryofMigrationandDisplacement
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Deal reached for twice-monthly return of Iraqi families from al-Hol camp
Shafaq News – Baghdad/Damascus Iraq and the Kurdish-run autonomous administration in northeast Syria have agreed to resume the return for Iraqis at al-Hol camp, scheduling two voluntary trips each month, a source familiar with the process informed Shafaq News on Sunday. The agreement forms part of a coordinated effort to accelerate the evacuation of Iraqi nationals from al-Hol camp, located in Syria's al-Hasakah province, and to streamline their transfer based on organized schedules and official name lists, the source explained, adding that the camp's authorities finalized the list for an upcoming trip earlier this month, and are currently awaiting confirmation from the Iraqi side regarding the departure date. The timing and frequency of the return journeys hinge largely on Iraq's logistical readiness at Jadaa camp in Nineveh province, the designated reception and reintegration site for returnees, the source explained. While some trips have recently faced delays due to mounting pressure on Jadaa's capacity, the source indicated that a new convoy is expected to head toward Iraq later this week. On June 22, the largest single group of Iraqi returnees to date—935 individuals from 236 families—departed al-Hol for Iraq. This movement followed a series of earlier returns over the past year, including 223 families (832 people) last year and 241 families (865 people) in mid-April 2024. Earlier, Ali Abbas, spokesperson for Iraq's Ministry of Migration and Displacement, confirmed that approximately 16,000 Iraqi citizens have been repatriated from al-Hol since the process began, distributed across 28 organized convoys. He added that about 15,000 Iraqis remain in the camp, with additional groups expected to return in the coming days. Revealing an agreement between the Iraqi government and the United Nations to complete the repatriation of all Iraqi families from al-Hol by the end of 2027, Abbas ensured that no Iraqis would remain in the camp beyond that deadline.
Rudaw Net
5 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Makhmour camp residents warn of ‘humanitarian catastrophe' amid blockade
Also in Iraq Iraq appoints new chief justice following judicial turmoil Sudani orders monitoring of water flow from Turkey Austrian ambassador praises President Barzani's role in Iraq Iraq reports 34 percent revenue decrease in four months A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Residents of the Makhmour refugee camp on Thursday continued to report severe restrictions on their movement and access to essential goods, despite denials from Iraqi and Kurdish authorities. 'We can't even take ill people to get treatment outside of the camp because of the blockade,' a resident told Rudaw, adding that medicine and other medical supplies are running low. Camp officials say basic necessities like school supplies, construction materials, and household goods are barred from entering the camp. A supervisor from the camp, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they have been under a blockade imposed by the Kurdistan Region since 2019, which was compounded by Iraqi restrictions added three months ago. 'If it continues, a humanitarian catastrophe will occur,' the official warned. Residents have staged protests in recent months demanding an end to the restrictions, which they say amount to a collective punishment unrelated to current security developments. The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement disputes the claims. 'They are officially registered with the Iraqi state and have no problems and are free to move to all provinces,' ministry spokesperson Ali Abbas told Rudaw on Thursday. Abbas added that residents are fearful following the arrest of five camp representatives in Baghdad. The individuals were detained after traveling to the capital in May to protest what they described as a government-imposed blockade. According to information obtained by Rudaw, the group was released after spending over a month in detention. Makhmour camp, located southwest of Erbil and administratively part of Nineveh province, was established in 1998 and is home to around 10,000 Kurdish refugees from southeast Turkey, most of whom were displaced during Turkey's conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) when their villages were depopulated. Camp authorities say residents are currently barred from working, accessing hospitals, or enrolling in universities, while many have been unable to renew expired refugee documents, preventing them from passing through checkpoints. The camp has long been caught in regional tensions. Turkey views it as a PKK stronghold, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2021 labeling it an 'incubation center for terrorism.' Turkish airstrikes and drone attacks have previously targeted alleged PKK positions in and around the camp. The PKK, which has fought Turkey for decades for greater Kurdish rights, deployed fighters to protect the camp from Islamic State (ISIS) attacks in 2014 but said it withdrew its forces in October 2023. The group is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and was officially banned by Iraq last year under Turkish pressure. On May 12, the PKK announced its decision to dissolve, and a group of its fighters is expected to disarm in a ceremony in Sulaimani province next week, according to sources familiar with the process. As regional actors navigate a fragile peace process, Iraq is now reportedly seeking to return Makhmour camp residents to Turkey. 'Especially now that there is rapprochement between the PKK and Turkey and the issue of laying down arms is near, the Iraqi government wants to directly send them back to their homeland alongside managing the peace process,' Rashad Galali, deputy head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) office in Makhmour, told Rudaw. Soran Hussein contributed to this report.
Shafaq News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Al-Hol Camp: Over 15000 transferred to Nineveh
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement announced that thousands of people have been transferred from Syria's Al-Hol camp to Iraq. Ali Abbas Jahankiz, a spokesperson for the ministry, confirmed to Shafaq News that more than 15,000 Iraqis have been relocated from Al-Hol to the Al-Jad'ah camp in Nineveh, with the majority being women and children. He also noted that over 12,600 individuals remain in Al-Hol, awaiting their transfer to Iraq in scheduled batches. "The transfer schedule is determined by the authorities managing Al-Hol camp," Jahankiz stated. Since 2021, the Iraqi government, in cooperation with international organizations, has been working to repatriate Iraqi families from the camp. These families are then sent to the Al-Jad'ah camp for social and psychological rehabilitation. However, the process has faced ongoing objections from local communities, particularly from families in Nineveh who have lost relatives to ISIS. These families express concerns about the return of the displaced to their areas. Earlier this month, Hussein Al-Amiri, a member of the Iraqi parliament's security and defense committee, confirmed that the repatriation of some Iraqi families from the Al-Hol and Al-Hasakah camps followed an earlier agreement between the Iraqi government and the United Nations. Al-Hol, located in Syria's al-Hasakah province near the Iraqi border, is one of the largest refugee camps and is under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The camp houses around 36,000 people, mainly women and children from families of ISIS members. International reports suggest that ISIS continues to use the camp as an informal base for re-recruitment and spreading its ideology.
Rudaw Net
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
More than 90 Yazidi families return to Shingal
Also in Iraq Former Kirkuk governor arrested on corruption charges Remains of 1,700 Kurds recovered over the past 17 years in Iraq: Official Crimean-Congo fever cases rise to 19 in Iraq, two dead Families of Anfal victims demand remains of loved ones from Baghdad A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - More than 90 Yazidi families have returned to Shingal (Sinjar), their homeland in northern Iraq, the country's migration ministry announced on Monday. The Spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement Ali Jahangir told Rudaw that 92 Yazidi families had returned to Shingal on Sunday, from Chamishko camp in the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province. In June 2014, the Islamic State (ISIS) seized control of large swathes of territory in Iraq's north and west. A little over a month later, in August, the group launched a wide-scale attack against the Yazidi community in Iraq's northern Shingal. During the August 2014 assault, ISIS killed and abducted around 9,900 Yazidis. Recognizing the systematic targeting of the Yazidis as genocidal, the United Nations also reported that up to 200,000 Yazidis were displaced from Shingal, many of whom settled in camps across Dohuk. Jahangir told Rudaw on Monday that 'at the beginning of 2024, there were 31,000 displaced [Shingal] Sinjar families in the Kurdistan Region's camps; however, now 21,000 [Yazidi] families are still there.' According to Jahangir, the migration ministry will provide returning Yazidi families with four million dinars (around $3,000) in financial assistance, as well as some essential household appliances to get by, including a refrigerator, stove, and television. 'Currently, only household appliances are being provided to the returning families, while the financial assistance will be distributed soon, following the approval of the [Iraqi] finance ministry,' he explained. Though more than 10 years have passed since ISIS launched its attack on Shingal, much of the Yazidi community remains displaced. Their return has been hindered by a combination of security concerns, political disputes, and infrastructure and reconstruction challenges. The presence of various armed groups has also created an unstable environment, further deterring many Yazidis from returning.
Rudaw Net
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi court issues arrest warrant for prominent Yazidi activist
Also in Iraq India-Iraq relations 'very strong': Ambassador Iraq inks 24,000 MW electricity deal with US company Iraq to face budget strain as US tariffs trigger oil price drop: Official Iraq announces November 11 as date for key legislative elections A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region -A court in the northern Iraqi province of Nineveh has issued an arrest warrant for Murad Ismael, a renowned Yazidi activist, on charges of "insulting" the migration minister. Ismael told Rudaw English on Thursday that he believes the move is politically motivated. A court in Mosul, located in Nineveh province, issued an arrest warrant on March 24 based on a complaint filed by the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement. The ministry accused the prominent Yazidi activist, Murad Ismael, of "insulting" the complainant. Ismael, who hails from the Shingal (Sinjar) district in Nineveh province but is based in the US, told Rudaw English that he had not received any court summons to defend himself before the arrest warrant was issued. He argued that this was a breach of standard procedure, which typically involves at least two additional steps: notifying the individual about the case and requesting their attendance in person. He noted that he was 'surprised by this move by the judiciary. While I have disagreed with the ministry and the minister herself [Evan Faeq Jabro] on several occasions with respect to their failure in the Yazidi IDPs [internally displaced persons] file and have made statements in this regard, I have not crossed the limits of professional criticism,' he stated. 'I believe this is politically motivated on the one hand, and on the other hand, it is an attempt to silence critics, like myself, who expose the many issues this ministry has. I heard unofficially that others are targeted too, but I am not sure about it,' he added. Rudaw English reached out to the federal ministry but has yet to receive a response. Hours after Ismael reported the warrant on X, the Iraqi ministry said in a post on Facebook that the Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani had approved her request to exempt Yazidi women from age and grade requirements for higher education admissions. 'This is considered an important step in supporting their education and integrating them into society,' it noted. However, she has not yet commented on the court ruling. Ismael is the co-founder and president of Sinjar Academy, which describes itself as a US-based non-profit organization and educational institution aiming to provide higher education services to the people of the Yazidi heartland, Shingal. Free Yezidi Foundation (FYF), another Yazidi organization which provides education and other support to Yazidi survivors of the Islamic State (ISIS) atrocities, condemned the arrest warrant, accusing the Iraqi ministry of being 'one of WORST ministries' since 2003. 'Instead of helping internally displaced, they have politicized the process. The Ministry should prepare lawsuits against every #Yezidi #Yazidi activist because we would NEVER let this outrage stand,' it added. In its assault on Shingal in 2014, ISIS militants abducted 6,417 Yazidi women and children, many of whom were subjected to sexual slavery and forced labor. Although the group was territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019, it continues to pose a security risk. Thousands of Yazidis remain displaced in the Kurdistan Region. Lack of security and basic services in Shingal has discouraged them from returning to their homes. Ismael believes that the arrest warrant is not an isolated event, adding that the minister and 'those of back her' have tried to dominate the Yazidi dossier in the Iraqi government have 'succeeded to a certain degree.' He noted that some people had told him he is being targeted as a 'preemptive move' to prevent him from running in upcoming parliamentary elections, slated for November 11. The activist fears that the ministry's actions could put his life at risk, even if he is not arrested. He explained that "the political and security situation in Sinjar and Iraq, in general, is unstable, and being portrayed as a target of the judiciary can put a person in real danger, especially when critics are already under pressure."
