In the Presence of Masrour Barzani: Launch of Kurdistan Region's Administrative Instructions for Asylum Seekers

In the presence of Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the ceremony for launching the Kurdistan Region Administrative Instruction for asylum seekers began on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.

During his speech at the event announcing the Administrative Instruction for asylum seekers in the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani stated, "The Kurdistan Region has been hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons for years without discrimination, despite facing severe financial crises. Nevertheless, it has not hesitated to serve its guests."
 

He added, "The Kurdistan Regional Government, without any religious, racial, or ethnic discrimination, has hosted hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers from neighboring countries, as well as internally displaced persons from Iraq. Thousands of people fled to the Kurdistan Region, especially at the beginning of ISIS terrorist attacks. This was at a time when we were facing a difficult situation and financial crisis. Nevertheless, despite the harsh conditions, the Kurdistan Regional Government took on the primary responsibility of establishing dozens of camps, with most of the burden falling on the Kurdistan Regional Government."
 

He continued, "Today, the Kurdistan Region continues to protect and shelter hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons who fled to the Kurdistan Region due to fear and lack of security and peace in their areas. Unfortunately, the situation in their countries and regions has not yet returned to normal."
 

He added, "Of course, no one likes to live in a state of displacement. The Kurdistan Regional Government always supports the voluntary return of all refugees through the normalization of conditions in their areas, so they can return to their homes with dignity and honor."
 

He further stated, "The Ministry of Interior of the Kurdistan Regional Government has prepared and drafted administrative instructions on the status of refugees in the Kurdistan Region in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees."
 

Barzani pointed out that "this guide is part of the Kurdistan Regional Government's administrative and legal programs to protect the rights of asylum seekers and define their duties, especially in the area of organizing and integrating procedures for the arrival and reception of asylum seekers and enforcing their rights and duties in the Kurdistan Region."
 

He added, "I would like to thank the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Interior and the team that prepared these guidelines in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees."

He continued, "We would like to reaffirm that the Kurdistan Region will always remain a shining example of hospitality and a safe haven for all who seek refuge from oppression and terrorism."
 

Barzani concluded his speech by saying, "We have tried to ensure that asylum seekers benefit from basic public services such as education, healthcare, and security. We hope that the federal government and the international community will assist the Kurdistan Region in providing more services to these refugees and displaced persons until conditions in their areas allow them to return to their places voluntarily."
 

The Kurdistan Region currently hosts 900,467 displaced persons and refugees both inside and outside camps. This includes 269,293 refugees from other countries, among them 251,475 Syrian refugees, 7,796 Turkish refugees, 8,357 Iranian refugees, and 652 Palestinian refugees. In addition, there are 10,013 refugees from other countries.