Kurdistan
The aftermath of a fire at the Bajid Kandala camp on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Photo: Submitted
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A fire broke out early Tuesday at a camp housing displaced Yazidis in Zakho, northern Duhok province, injuring an elderly man.
“The fire started around 2 am at the Bajid Kandala camp, burning down two tents,” Jamal Hasin, head of the Zakho civil department, told Rudaw.
He added that firefighting teams were immediately deployed, preventing the blaze from spreading to neighboring tents.
“An elderly man was injured, suffering burns to 20 percent of his body. He is receiving treatment at the Zakho emergency hospital,” Hasin said.
This marks the third fire incident at the Yazidi camp. On December 27, another fire destroyed between 30 and 35 shops, while a separate fire on September 26 injured one person and damaged several tents.
Bajid Kandala camp is home to more than 1,600 Yazidi families, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Located near Zakho city, the camp has experienced similar fires in recent years, as have other displacement camps.
Nearly eight years after the defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS), thousands of Yazidis continue to live in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Many families remain reluctant to return home due to ongoing insecurity, destroyed homes and businesses, and limited access to basic services, despite financial incentives from authorities.
While the Iraqi government aims to close all IDP camps nationwide, human rights advocates emphasize that returns must be voluntary.
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