Iranian Kurdish refugees in Sulaimani hit hard by COVID-19 lockdown
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A large number of Iranian Kurdish families in Sulaimani have been left jobless amid the coronavirus lockdown, exacerbating their economic woes.
Approximately 250 families in Sulaimani are political refugees who fled Iran fearing political persecution, seeking shelter in the Kurdistan Region.
Wasta Braim, from Saqqez, has been living in Sulaimani for 11 years. Poverty and chronic illness have now been made worse by the lockdown.
"My situation is very very bad," Braim said, displaying the various medication he takes. "I am not worried about myself, but my children. I have three children who are students."
A construction worker, his last salary was three months ago.
"Three months ago I earned 30,000 dinars. I pay a monthly rent of 200,000 dinars. I have to take four different mental illness medications, two types of medicine for diabetes and one for [blood] pressure," he said.
Braim was once a Peshmerga fighter among the ranks of one of the Iranian Kurdish parties, but he laid down arms and decided to start a new life for his family.
His wife Layla Ali says they have not received any financial aid or other kind of assistance, despite her husband and son being unemployed.
"My husband was a [construction worker]. He has now lost his job. My sons are home too. One of them is sick and cannot work," Ali said.
"Indeed, those in need of assistance should be helped during such circumstances. I do not want assistance at a later time when I do not need it," she added.
As Iranian refugees, they are unable to obtain Iraqi citizenship and cannot return to Iran for fear of regime reprisals.
They often protest outside of the United Nations complex in the Kurdistan Region's capital of Erbil, requesting access to affordable higher education and additional training to help them find jobs.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is responsible for their welfare, but thinks the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) should take responsibility, Reza Ahmed, head of the Eastern Kurdistan Refugee Council told Rudaw.
"When we speak with UNHCR, their response is the KRG should take care of you. They say “why doesn’t the KRG assist you?" Ahmed said.
"Our biggest problem now is the refugees' livelihoods," he added.
"I dare say that 98 percent of political refugees pay rent. I am calling at least on philanthropists, organizations and the government itself to assist them," Ahmed said.
In a bid to boost protection amid the coronavirus pandemic, UNHCR has recently launched a campaign to distribute cash to vulnerable refugees and IDPs in Iraq. The campaign aims to reach 110,000 vulnerable families across Iraq allocating $200 per family.
However, it is unclear whether or not the campaign includes the Iranian refugees in Sulaimani.
Reporting by Arkan Ali
Translated by Zhelwan Z.Wali