Speaking to reporters in Erbil on Thursday, Guterres said that the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) remains committed to supporting the Kurdistan Region.
“The UNHCR remains totally committed to supporting the Kurdistan Regional Government in providing the extraordinary solidarity that was provided for those refugees. If we are not doing enough, and probably we are not doing enough, I will do my best to see how we can better mobilise international support to make sure those refugees are properly assisted through UN agencies,” he said when Rudaw’s Payam Sarbast asked about complaints from Syrian and Iranian refugees in the Region about UN aid.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, mostly Kurds, have fled to the Kurdistan Region in the last decade due to civil war at home. The UNHCR has suspended services in many refugee camps, including education, electricity, water and sanitation services.
Many Syrian refugees have complained that they are struggling to make ends meet.
COVID-19 concerns led various organisations responsible for providing critical goods and services to refugees and IDPs to slow down or completely halt their operations.
Decreased funding from donors has led local and international organisations to dedicate their limited resources to dire humanitarian situations.
Guterres also told reporters that he has always been “touched by the generosity and solidarity of the Kurdish people towards those fleeing conflict and catastrophe.”
“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to you for once again extending a helping hand,” he added, referring to the Region’s aid to quake-hit areas in Turkey and Syria.
The Iraqi government has returned several batches of citizens from Syria’s notorious al-Hol camp. These people have been accused of being linked to the Islamic State (ISIS).
Kurdish and US officials in northeast Syria (Rojava) have repeatedly called on countries to repatriate their nationals from Syria.
The UN chief praised Iraq for the reparations, calling on others to follow suit.
