Deputy Governor of Erbil receives a UNDP delegation

On September 5, 2023, Erbil Deputy Governor Hemn Qadir received a high-level UNDP delegation led by Harvey Garcia. The Deputy Governor welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Erbil Provincial Administration and highlighted UNDP's work in the Kurdistan Region, particularly in Erbil.

He also stated that UNDP has played an important role in giving logistical support to refugees and displaced people from the lower, central, and Nineveh Plain who fled to Erbil in 2014 following the terrorist organization ISIS's onslaught.

He stated that since the revolt till various stages of the Iraqi War of Independence, ISIS attacks, and sectarian battles in Iraq, Erbil has always been open to individuals whose lives were in danger.

He added, despite the financial crisis and the non-payment of financial entitlements by Baghdad, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has provided a large number of services to the refugees, as a result of the threat posed by ISIS and the influx of refugees into Erbil.

The Deputy Governor stated that the UNDP has played an active role in the field of solar electricity generation, in addition to providing scientific advisory assistance to higher education institutions, particularly the College of Engineering.

The Deputy Governor of Erbil explained the effects of climate change on the city of Erbil and stated that because Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are on the front lines of climate change, Erbil has not been immune to the damage, such as rising temperatures, decreasing groundwater, and floods in autumn and winter, which have had detrimental effects on the city's citizens.

In addition, he emphasized the UNDP's important involvement in the development of the agriculture, health, and electricity sectors in the Kurdistan Region and Erbil in particular.

For their part, to prepare the evaluation report, the guest delegation asked the Deputy Governor several queries about UNDP initiatives.