Lilly Carlisle, UNHCR Iraq spokesperson, speaks to Rudaw in an interview on January 9, 2026. Photo: Screengrab/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq continues to host more than 1.3 million refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs), with all camps located in the Kurdistan Region, according to an official from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
“Currently in Iraq, there are just over 340,000 refugees,” UNHCR Iraq spokesperson Lilly Carlisle told Rudaw’s Fuad Rahimi on Friday, noting that “about 30 percent live in nine refugee camps.” She added that Iraq is also home to “around 1 million internally displaced people,” including “over 100,000 internally displaced people who are living in camps.”
Carlisle said that Iraq’s nine refugee camps and 20 IDP camps “are all located within the Kurdistan Region.”
She said the majority of refugees in Iraq are Syrians, making up “about 90 percent of the population,” with smaller numbers from Iran, Turkey, and Palestine.
Less than 7,000 Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR “returned home in 2025,” Carlisle said, describing it as “quite a small number” compared with returns from other countries in the region, including Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.
Funding shortages have further strained assistance for displaced populations, she said, noting that UNHCR in Iraq received only about 30 percent of the funds required in 2025. As a result, the agency reduced programs and suspended cash assistance for vulnerable families.
UNHCR Iraq is now appealing for “around $60 million” in 2026 to continue aid, though she warned that “the expectation is that the amount of funding will be less than we've seen in previous years.”
Resettlement opportunities remain extremely limited, she said. “In 2025, for example, we only had 300 spaces for resettlement for all refugees in Iraq,” with quotas for 2026 expected to drop to “only around 100 to 200 places.”
Carlisle said UNHCR continues to prioritize protection, documentation, and durable solutions, including “supporting them to return to their areas of origin, to also be able to integrate locally in the areas of displacement, but also potential relocation to other areas of the country.”
She also highlighted cooperation with local authorities, saying, “We have a very positive relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government… and we work with the government on advocating for solutions for internally displaced people.”
Commenting on the appointment of former Iraqi President Barham Salih as UNHCR High Commissioner in 2026, Carlisle expressed optimism. “I think we're all very excited to see what he brings to the role, especially given his firsthand experience of being a refugee,” she said.
The following is the full transcript of the interview with Lilly Carlisle, UNHCR Iraq spokesperson:
Rudaw: How many camps do you have in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and what are the current numbers of IDPs and refugees?
Lilly Carlisle: So, currently in Iraq, there are just over 340,000 refugees, who, most of them, live in urban areas, but about 30 percent live in nine refugee camps. In addition to the refugee population, we also continue to have internally displaced people in Iraq. So the current numbers are that there are around 1 million internally displaced people in Iraq, although this number hasn't been updated in around a year because we haven't had enough funding to do a new survey. But within the number of internally displaced people, there are also over 100,000 internally displaced people who are living in camps. So there are also 20 internally displaced person camps in addition to the nine refugee camps.
Generally speaking, how many of those camps are in Iraq and how many are in the Kurdistan Region?
So there are nine refugee camps and 20 internally displaced camps, so 29 camps altogether, and they are all located within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Among the refugees living in the Kurdistan Region, how many different ethnicities and countries do they represent?
So, primarily, the majority of the refugees are from Syria. About 90 percent of the population are from Syria. We also have refugees from countries such as Iran, from Turkey, from Palestine, and other countries as well.
How many of the displaced people in the camps have returned to their original homes so far?
Can I [you] clarify? Do you mean refugees or do you mean internally displaced people?
I am referring to the displaced people.
So for the refugee population, we've seen around just under 7,000 Syrian refugees who are registered with us at UNHCR who returned home in 2025. This is actually quite a small number in comparison to the returns that we've seen of Syrian refugees from throughout the rest of the region, from countries like Jordan, Lebanon, from Turkey. So, actually, at the moment, most of the Syrian refugee population their plan is to stay in Iraq for the foreseeable future. So, as UNHCR, we continue to support and assist them while they remain here in Iraq.
How many refugees returned to their homes in 2025?
So for the Syrian refugees, it was 7,000 who returned in...
Generally speaking, this includes refugees from eastern Kurdistan [western Iran], western Kurdistan [northeastern Syria], and northern Kurdistan [southeastern Turkey].
Yeah, so 7,000 Syrian refugees returned home in 2025.
Regarding the delivery of aid to these IDPs and refugees, there is criticism that they are not receiving adequate assistance; why is that?
So, at UNHCR, we always have a yearly appeal about the number of funds that we need to support both refugees and internally displaced people. So, in 2025, as UNHCR, we only received around 30 percent of the funds that we needed, which meant that we had to prioritize our programming and also reduce some of our programs so we weren't able to meet all the needs. As the UN, we rely on donations from the international community to support our work, and unfortunately, over recent years and especially in 2025, we have seen the rate of that those funds decrease, which has meant that we are not able to do as much as we would like to meet the needs of refugees and forcibly displaced people in Iraq. In 2026, we continue to appeal to the international community to support our work, but the expectation is that the amount of funding will be less than we've seen in previous years.
How much annual budget does your organization require to assist refugees and IDPs in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region properly?
So for 2026, as UNHCR, we're appealing for around $60 million of funds to support our work here in Iraq.
Is there currently any concern or doubt that this budget might not be provided?
It's still the start of the year, so we're waiting to see what the commitments from our international donors will be to support our programs here. As I said last year, we were only about 30 percent funded, so we hope that this year it will be more, and we continue to, you know, work with the international community and show what impact their funds can have here in Iraq and what the needs are for both refugees and displaced people.
Ms Lilly, one of the criticisms is that UNHCR in Iraq is not doing enough for refugees, specifically those recognized by your organization for resettlement in a third country. Why is this the case?
So, as UNHCR here in Iraq, our priorities are supporting refugees to be registered and making sure that they have access to documentation, both UNHCR documentation and government documentation, because this is important so that they can access public services and rebuild their lives here in Iraq. In addition, we continue to provide refugees with legal assistance and also support their inclusion and integration within their communities. In terms of third country resettlement and solutions, unfortunately, the numbers available for third country resettlement have decreased in comparison to third… in previous years. So, in 2025, for example, we only had 300 spaces for resettlement for all refugees in Iraq, which is a very small number. But these quotas for resettlement rely on commitments from third countries, countries in America, in Europe, who are willing to resettle refugees, and unfortunately, that willingness is decreasing. However, refugees here in Iraq can rebuild their lives where they are, and that's what, as UNHCR Iraq, we continue to support them with.
What is your current annual quota for refugees in Iraq to be resettled in third countries? How many people can you send abroad annually?
So, in 2026, we don't yet have the exact numbers for resettlement, but we expect it will be similar to last year in 2025, so only around 100 to 200 places will be available for resettlement.
Many refugees and migrants, both in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, are in a difficult situation. We are now in the cold season, and there is a need for fuel and other essentials. To what extent have you been able to provide these for them?
So, in 2025, as UNHCR, we were providing cash assistance to the most vulnerable refugee families who lived outside of camps, so they could live in normal towns and cities in urban areas. We provided this cash assistance to around 5,500 refugee families. The most vulnerable families, so this includes people with disabilities, the elderly, and single mothers, to help them support their everyday needs. Unfortunately, due to the lack of funding, as UNHCR, we had to stop this cash assistance program at the end of 2025 because we simply don't have the funds to restart our cash assistance program in 2026. But this is also part of our appeal to the international community is to provide funding so that we can resume our cash assistance program which is an important source of support to the most vulnerable refugee families and especially as you mentioned during winter the families often use this cash assistance to pay their rent but also buy gas and fuel and heating to keep their households warm.
How is your cooperation and coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to provide further assistance to IDPs and refugees?
So, we have a very positive relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government and, in particular, we have a financial partnership agreement with the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre, which supports both refugee and internally displaced person camp management. So, we provide funding to support the everyday running of refugee camps, and we also work with the government on advocating for solutions for internally displaced people. So, as UNHCR, we believe there should be three durable solutions available for internally displaced people, especially those who are living in camps. These solutions include supporting them to return to their areas of origin, to also be able to integrate locally in the areas of displacement, but also potential relocation to other areas of the country as solutions to end their displacement here in Iraq. And this is something we continue to advocate on and work very closely with the different authorities to try and find solutions for internally displaced people.
Ms. Lilly, some of these refugees have lived in the Kurdistan Region for many years. Some are 30 years old and have been refugees here their whole lives. They still do not have personal identification cards, and some are asking for Iraqi citizenship. Have you had any discussions with the Iraqi federal government regarding this?
So, refugee documentation in Iraq is governed by administrative instructions which we signed with UNHCR, with both federal and regional authorities in 2024. So, these administrative instructions define the process through which refugees can get documentation. So, the first step is that refugees would come, and they would be registered with us at UNHCR, and they would be issued a UNHCR registration certificate. Now, with that UNHCR documentation, they can then approach the authorities, whether at the federal or a regional level, to be issued with government documentation. Once they have this government documentation, it...
Have you conveyed this specific request to the Iraqi government?
So, we have agreed with the Iraqi government on the process of issuing documentation to refugees, and this is set out in administrative instructions. And in fact, many refugees hold both UNHCR documentation and government documentation.
For instance, if a refugee in the Kurdistan Region wants to obtain an Iraqi personal identification card and become an Iraqi citizen, how should they submit that request through your [organization]?
So, refugees in the Kurdistan Region can be registered with UNHCR and get the UNHCR certificate, and then they can also then approach the residency directorate in the Kurdistan Region and be issued with what is called a personal identification car,d which is the government documentation that gives them the right to be here in the Kurdistan Region. As a third-country national, refugees are not able to get Iraqi citizenship.
Is this regarding the granting of residency permits or obtaining residency for the Kurdistan Region?
Yes, it is called the personal identification card, and this is the government documentation in the Kurdistan Region, which is issued to refugees.
That concerns residency, but I am specifically referring to Iraqi citizenship.
So, for refugees who are third-country nationals to be able to get Iraqi citizenship, this is very much dependent on the Iraqi citizenship law.
Some IDPs in the camps are dissatisfied with the conditions in their home areas. What is being done to enable these displaced people to return to their homes as soon as possible?
So, as UNHCR, we conduct periodic surveys with the Syrian refugees here in Iraq to understand their intentions to return home. So, in June 2024, we did a survey among the Syrian refugees here in Iraq to see if they would be interested in returning home. Only 4 percent of the Syrian refugees here said that they would be interested in returning back to Syria in the next 12 months, which illustrates the fact that for the time being, most are planning to remain in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. So, as UNHCR, we continue to support their inclusion and provide assistance and services while they remain here in Iraq, because at the moment, not many are willing to return back to Syria.
That previous point was about refugees from other parts of the Kurdistan Region. What is the main reason behind the failure to return the IDPs living in the Kurdistan Region to their hometowns?
So, in 2025, we saw around 1,500 internally displaced people from camps in the Kurdistan Region return home to their areas of origin. This compares to around 10,000 IDPs from camps who returned home in 2024, so the rate of return from IDP camps in 2025 was much less than the year before. Now, when we ask the remaining IDP population what they think about return, most of them cite the safety and security situation as the main reason why they are not yet willing to return to their areas of origin. In addition, they talk about challenges related to housing and a lack of public services in their areas of origin. So, as UNHCR, we continue to advocate for a range of solutions to be made available for the internally displaced population, as well as returning to their areas of origin, and also potential options for them to integrate locally in their areas of displacement or be relocated to other areas in the country.
Regarding the Yazidi Kurds in the camps, they say that services have not been restored in their hometowns. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government wants to close the camps. What does UNHCR intend to do regarding this situation?
So, at the moment, there are no concrete plans to close the 20 remaining IDP camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and this includes the 15 IDP camps in the Duhok governorate, which are primarily home to Yazidi populations. So, for the time being, the Yazidi population can remain in the IDP camps where they're currently living.
What is UNHCR’s plan for 2026, particularly in light of the appointment of a new head of UNHCR, Dr. Barham Ahmed Salih, who is Kurdish?
Yeah, so, as you say, UNHCR's new high commissioner Dr. Barham Salih, was selected and began his tenure at the beginning of 2026. So it's only been a week or so since he started his new role, but at UNHCR we will continue to support refugees and...
Was this expected for you, Ms. Lilly, a Kurd being appointed to this position?
So, for the selection of UNHCR's high commissioner, it goes through a very robust selection and election process where all the different UN member states elect the new high commissioner. So, this process was carried out towards the end of 2025 and then, yes, as we saw, Dr. Barham was elected as the new high commissioner, and I think we're all very excited to see what he brings to the role, especially given his firsthand experience of being a refugee.
What is your plan for this year, 2026? Additionally, given that the new head of UNHCR is now a Kurd and an Iraqi citizen, to what extent can this help in addressing the challenges you might face?
So, at UNHCR in 2026, we will continue to support refugees and forcibly displaced people in this country. This includes ensuring their protection and also working towards finding solutions to their plight. And yes, as you mentioned, with the new election of our high commissioner, we hope this work can be furthered, and we can have many positive developments in the year to come.
For the refugees and IDPs in the camps or those living across the Kurdistan Region who are watching this interview, what is your message to them? Can you provide some clarity on what UNHCR intends to do for them this year?
So, for refugees, I think for many of them who are not able or willing for this year ahead to go home, I think our message is that they can continue to build their lives here in Iraq. Once they are registered and have the government-issued documentation, this enables them to access public services, to find jobs and to rebuild their life here in Iraq. And so we really encourage them to do so to contribute to the society around them and to really make Iraq their home at this important point in time. And we promise them, as UNHCR, that we will continue to help them, provide assistance where we can and where funding allows, and also work with the government and the relevant authorities to help find solutions for their plight.
Do you also work on providing or creating job opportunities for them?
So, once refugees have the documentation, they are able to apply for jobs just like any other Iraqi can. So, we work with a number of different partners and agencies across the UN to try and create job opportunities and stimulate economic growth through entrepreneurship, which are available to both Iraqis and refugees.
If you face a budget deficit for this year, which I hope will not be the case, how do you plan to cover that gap?
So, as UNHCR, we always have to prioritize the money that we have and make sure it goes to the most in-need refugees and also supports the basic protection. As UNHCR, our mandate is to protect refugees, and so that will always be our first priority. So, in Iraq at the moment our priorities include making sure that refugees are registered and documented, providing legal assistance where possible, and also supporting solutions. So hopefully, if funds allow, these will remain our priorities throughout 2026.
“Currently in Iraq, there are just over 340,000 refugees,” UNHCR Iraq spokesperson Lilly Carlisle told Rudaw’s Fuad Rahimi on Friday, noting that “about 30 percent live in nine refugee camps.” She added that Iraq is also home to “around 1 million internally displaced people,” including “over 100,000 internally displaced people who are living in camps.”
Carlisle said that Iraq’s nine refugee camps and 20 IDP camps “are all located within the Kurdistan Region.”
She said the majority of refugees in Iraq are Syrians, making up “about 90 percent of the population,” with smaller numbers from Iran, Turkey, and Palestine.
Less than 7,000 Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR “returned home in 2025,” Carlisle said, describing it as “quite a small number” compared with returns from other countries in the region, including Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.
Funding shortages have further strained assistance for displaced populations, she said, noting that UNHCR in Iraq received only about 30 percent of the funds required in 2025. As a result, the agency reduced programs and suspended cash assistance for vulnerable families.
UNHCR Iraq is now appealing for “around $60 million” in 2026 to continue aid, though she warned that “the expectation is that the amount of funding will be less than we've seen in previous years.”
Resettlement opportunities remain extremely limited, she said. “In 2025, for example, we only had 300 spaces for resettlement for all refugees in Iraq,” with quotas for 2026 expected to drop to “only around 100 to 200 places.”
Carlisle said UNHCR continues to prioritize protection, documentation, and durable solutions, including “supporting them to return to their areas of origin, to also be able to integrate locally in the areas of displacement, but also potential relocation to other areas of the country.”
She also highlighted cooperation with local authorities, saying, “We have a very positive relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government… and we work with the government on advocating for solutions for internally displaced people.”
Commenting on the appointment of former Iraqi President Barham Salih as UNHCR High Commissioner in 2026, Carlisle expressed optimism. “I think we're all very excited to see what he brings to the role, especially given his firsthand experience of being a refugee,” she said.
The following is the full transcript of the interview with Lilly Carlisle, UNHCR Iraq spokesperson:
Rudaw: How many camps do you have in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and what are the current numbers of IDPs and refugees?
Lilly Carlisle: So, currently in Iraq, there are just over 340,000 refugees, who, most of them, live in urban areas, but about 30 percent live in nine refugee camps. In addition to the refugee population, we also continue to have internally displaced people in Iraq. So the current numbers are that there are around 1 million internally displaced people in Iraq, although this number hasn't been updated in around a year because we haven't had enough funding to do a new survey. But within the number of internally displaced people, there are also over 100,000 internally displaced people who are living in camps. So there are also 20 internally displaced person camps in addition to the nine refugee camps.
Generally speaking, how many of those camps are in Iraq and how many are in the Kurdistan Region?
So there are nine refugee camps and 20 internally displaced camps, so 29 camps altogether, and they are all located within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Among the refugees living in the Kurdistan Region, how many different ethnicities and countries do they represent?
So, primarily, the majority of the refugees are from Syria. About 90 percent of the population are from Syria. We also have refugees from countries such as Iran, from Turkey, from Palestine, and other countries as well.
How many of the displaced people in the camps have returned to their original homes so far?
Can I [you] clarify? Do you mean refugees or do you mean internally displaced people?
I am referring to the displaced people.
So for the refugee population, we've seen around just under 7,000 Syrian refugees who are registered with us at UNHCR who returned home in 2025. This is actually quite a small number in comparison to the returns that we've seen of Syrian refugees from throughout the rest of the region, from countries like Jordan, Lebanon, from Turkey. So, actually, at the moment, most of the Syrian refugee population their plan is to stay in Iraq for the foreseeable future. So, as UNHCR, we continue to support and assist them while they remain here in Iraq.
How many refugees returned to their homes in 2025?
So for the Syrian refugees, it was 7,000 who returned in...
Generally speaking, this includes refugees from eastern Kurdistan [western Iran], western Kurdistan [northeastern Syria], and northern Kurdistan [southeastern Turkey].
Yeah, so 7,000 Syrian refugees returned home in 2025.
Regarding the delivery of aid to these IDPs and refugees, there is criticism that they are not receiving adequate assistance; why is that?
So, at UNHCR, we always have a yearly appeal about the number of funds that we need to support both refugees and internally displaced people. So, in 2025, as UNHCR, we only received around 30 percent of the funds that we needed, which meant that we had to prioritize our programming and also reduce some of our programs so we weren't able to meet all the needs. As the UN, we rely on donations from the international community to support our work, and unfortunately, over recent years and especially in 2025, we have seen the rate of that those funds decrease, which has meant that we are not able to do as much as we would like to meet the needs of refugees and forcibly displaced people in Iraq. In 2026, we continue to appeal to the international community to support our work, but the expectation is that the amount of funding will be less than we've seen in previous years.
How much annual budget does your organization require to assist refugees and IDPs in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region properly?
So for 2026, as UNHCR, we're appealing for around $60 million of funds to support our work here in Iraq.
Is there currently any concern or doubt that this budget might not be provided?
It's still the start of the year, so we're waiting to see what the commitments from our international donors will be to support our programs here. As I said last year, we were only about 30 percent funded, so we hope that this year it will be more, and we continue to, you know, work with the international community and show what impact their funds can have here in Iraq and what the needs are for both refugees and displaced people.
Ms Lilly, one of the criticisms is that UNHCR in Iraq is not doing enough for refugees, specifically those recognized by your organization for resettlement in a third country. Why is this the case?
So, as UNHCR here in Iraq, our priorities are supporting refugees to be registered and making sure that they have access to documentation, both UNHCR documentation and government documentation, because this is important so that they can access public services and rebuild their lives here in Iraq. In addition, we continue to provide refugees with legal assistance and also support their inclusion and integration within their communities. In terms of third country resettlement and solutions, unfortunately, the numbers available for third country resettlement have decreased in comparison to third… in previous years. So, in 2025, for example, we only had 300 spaces for resettlement for all refugees in Iraq, which is a very small number. But these quotas for resettlement rely on commitments from third countries, countries in America, in Europe, who are willing to resettle refugees, and unfortunately, that willingness is decreasing. However, refugees here in Iraq can rebuild their lives where they are, and that's what, as UNHCR Iraq, we continue to support them with.
What is your current annual quota for refugees in Iraq to be resettled in third countries? How many people can you send abroad annually?
So, in 2026, we don't yet have the exact numbers for resettlement, but we expect it will be similar to last year in 2025, so only around 100 to 200 places will be available for resettlement.
Many refugees and migrants, both in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, are in a difficult situation. We are now in the cold season, and there is a need for fuel and other essentials. To what extent have you been able to provide these for them?
So, in 2025, as UNHCR, we were providing cash assistance to the most vulnerable refugee families who lived outside of camps, so they could live in normal towns and cities in urban areas. We provided this cash assistance to around 5,500 refugee families. The most vulnerable families, so this includes people with disabilities, the elderly, and single mothers, to help them support their everyday needs. Unfortunately, due to the lack of funding, as UNHCR, we had to stop this cash assistance program at the end of 2025 because we simply don't have the funds to restart our cash assistance program in 2026. But this is also part of our appeal to the international community is to provide funding so that we can resume our cash assistance program which is an important source of support to the most vulnerable refugee families and especially as you mentioned during winter the families often use this cash assistance to pay their rent but also buy gas and fuel and heating to keep their households warm.
How is your cooperation and coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to provide further assistance to IDPs and refugees?
So, we have a very positive relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government and, in particular, we have a financial partnership agreement with the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre, which supports both refugee and internally displaced person camp management. So, we provide funding to support the everyday running of refugee camps, and we also work with the government on advocating for solutions for internally displaced people. So, as UNHCR, we believe there should be three durable solutions available for internally displaced people, especially those who are living in camps. These solutions include supporting them to return to their areas of origin, to also be able to integrate locally in the areas of displacement, but also potential relocation to other areas of the country as solutions to end their displacement here in Iraq. And this is something we continue to advocate on and work very closely with the different authorities to try and find solutions for internally displaced people.
Ms. Lilly, some of these refugees have lived in the Kurdistan Region for many years. Some are 30 years old and have been refugees here their whole lives. They still do not have personal identification cards, and some are asking for Iraqi citizenship. Have you had any discussions with the Iraqi federal government regarding this?
So, refugee documentation in Iraq is governed by administrative instructions which we signed with UNHCR, with both federal and regional authorities in 2024. So, these administrative instructions define the process through which refugees can get documentation. So, the first step is that refugees would come, and they would be registered with us at UNHCR, and they would be issued a UNHCR registration certificate. Now, with that UNHCR documentation, they can then approach the authorities, whether at the federal or a regional level, to be issued with government documentation. Once they have this government documentation, it...
Have you conveyed this specific request to the Iraqi government?
So, we have agreed with the Iraqi government on the process of issuing documentation to refugees, and this is set out in administrative instructions. And in fact, many refugees hold both UNHCR documentation and government documentation.
For instance, if a refugee in the Kurdistan Region wants to obtain an Iraqi personal identification card and become an Iraqi citizen, how should they submit that request through your [organization]?
So, refugees in the Kurdistan Region can be registered with UNHCR and get the UNHCR certificate, and then they can also then approach the residency directorate in the Kurdistan Region and be issued with what is called a personal identification car,d which is the government documentation that gives them the right to be here in the Kurdistan Region. As a third-country national, refugees are not able to get Iraqi citizenship.
Is this regarding the granting of residency permits or obtaining residency for the Kurdistan Region?
Yes, it is called the personal identification card, and this is the government documentation in the Kurdistan Region, which is issued to refugees.
That concerns residency, but I am specifically referring to Iraqi citizenship.
So, for refugees who are third-country nationals to be able to get Iraqi citizenship, this is very much dependent on the Iraqi citizenship law.
Some IDPs in the camps are dissatisfied with the conditions in their home areas. What is being done to enable these displaced people to return to their homes as soon as possible?
So, as UNHCR, we conduct periodic surveys with the Syrian refugees here in Iraq to understand their intentions to return home. So, in June 2024, we did a survey among the Syrian refugees here in Iraq to see if they would be interested in returning home. Only 4 percent of the Syrian refugees here said that they would be interested in returning back to Syria in the next 12 months, which illustrates the fact that for the time being, most are planning to remain in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. So, as UNHCR, we continue to support their inclusion and provide assistance and services while they remain here in Iraq, because at the moment, not many are willing to return back to Syria.
That previous point was about refugees from other parts of the Kurdistan Region. What is the main reason behind the failure to return the IDPs living in the Kurdistan Region to their hometowns?
So, in 2025, we saw around 1,500 internally displaced people from camps in the Kurdistan Region return home to their areas of origin. This compares to around 10,000 IDPs from camps who returned home in 2024, so the rate of return from IDP camps in 2025 was much less than the year before. Now, when we ask the remaining IDP population what they think about return, most of them cite the safety and security situation as the main reason why they are not yet willing to return to their areas of origin. In addition, they talk about challenges related to housing and a lack of public services in their areas of origin. So, as UNHCR, we continue to advocate for a range of solutions to be made available for the internally displaced population, as well as returning to their areas of origin, and also potential options for them to integrate locally in their areas of displacement or be relocated to other areas in the country.
Regarding the Yazidi Kurds in the camps, they say that services have not been restored in their hometowns. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government wants to close the camps. What does UNHCR intend to do regarding this situation?
So, at the moment, there are no concrete plans to close the 20 remaining IDP camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and this includes the 15 IDP camps in the Duhok governorate, which are primarily home to Yazidi populations. So, for the time being, the Yazidi population can remain in the IDP camps where they're currently living.
What is UNHCR’s plan for 2026, particularly in light of the appointment of a new head of UNHCR, Dr. Barham Ahmed Salih, who is Kurdish?
Yeah, so, as you say, UNHCR's new high commissioner Dr. Barham Salih, was selected and began his tenure at the beginning of 2026. So it's only been a week or so since he started his new role, but at UNHCR we will continue to support refugees and...
Was this expected for you, Ms. Lilly, a Kurd being appointed to this position?
So, for the selection of UNHCR's high commissioner, it goes through a very robust selection and election process where all the different UN member states elect the new high commissioner. So, this process was carried out towards the end of 2025 and then, yes, as we saw, Dr. Barham was elected as the new high commissioner, and I think we're all very excited to see what he brings to the role, especially given his firsthand experience of being a refugee.
What is your plan for this year, 2026? Additionally, given that the new head of UNHCR is now a Kurd and an Iraqi citizen, to what extent can this help in addressing the challenges you might face?
So, at UNHCR in 2026, we will continue to support refugees and forcibly displaced people in this country. This includes ensuring their protection and also working towards finding solutions to their plight. And yes, as you mentioned, with the new election of our high commissioner, we hope this work can be furthered, and we can have many positive developments in the year to come.
For the refugees and IDPs in the camps or those living across the Kurdistan Region who are watching this interview, what is your message to them? Can you provide some clarity on what UNHCR intends to do for them this year?
So, for refugees, I think for many of them who are not able or willing for this year ahead to go home, I think our message is that they can continue to build their lives here in Iraq. Once they are registered and have the government-issued documentation, this enables them to access public services, to find jobs and to rebuild their life here in Iraq. And so we really encourage them to do so to contribute to the society around them and to really make Iraq their home at this important point in time. And we promise them, as UNHCR, that we will continue to help them, provide assistance where we can and where funding allows, and also work with the government and the relevant authorities to help find solutions for their plight.
Do you also work on providing or creating job opportunities for them?
So, once refugees have the documentation, they are able to apply for jobs just like any other Iraqi can. So, we work with a number of different partners and agencies across the UN to try and create job opportunities and stimulate economic growth through entrepreneurship, which are available to both Iraqis and refugees.
If you face a budget deficit for this year, which I hope will not be the case, how do you plan to cover that gap?
So, as UNHCR, we always have to prioritize the money that we have and make sure it goes to the most in-need refugees and also supports the basic protection. As UNHCR, our mandate is to protect refugees, and so that will always be our first priority. So, in Iraq at the moment our priorities include making sure that refugees are registered and documented, providing legal assistance where possible, and also supporting solutions. So hopefully, if funds allow, these will remain our priorities throughout 2026.
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