ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least 1,700 students from 18 universities in Mosul, the Iraqi city held by the Islamic State group (ISIS) for more than a year, have began studying in the town of Semel in the Kurdistan Region’s Dohuk province.
The students, who are holding classes in a small hall, demand help from the Kurdish and Iraqi governments.
“We thank the Kurdistan region government and ask the Iraqi government to provide accommodation and transportation,” one student told Rudaw. “We pay 700,000 Iraqi dinars (about $570) for a rented flat,” he said.
“We are refugees, living in poor conditions but still in need of education,” another student said. “People should never lose hope. Any country that goes through war will face this condition, but there should be a solution for every problem,” he added.
The refugee students come from different ethnicities and religions.
“There is no difference between Kurds, Arabs, Shabaks and other minorities. We are studying all together exactly how we were in Mosul,” a student said.
One lecturer told Rudaw that, despite the many problems faced by the students, they have the will to persevere.
“There are many problems facing the students and the lecturers. The students are financially suffering. But there is the will and we will continue,” the lecturer said.
Mosul University was established in 1967 and has many colleges and scientific departments. The city has been under ISIS control since June 2014, when militants attacked from Syria and routed the Iraqi army from the province.
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