ERBIL,Kurdistan Region - Head of Erbil health department says that hospitals in the city are overwhelmed by thousands of wounded civilians brought from Mosul and injured in the ongoing offensive to retake the city from ISIS.
“An estimated 7,595 people have been rushed to Erbil hospitals within the past 65 days,”said Saman Barzinji, head of the Erbil health department at a conference on Thursday.
”Almost all (Erbil) hospitals are dedicated to receive Mosul injures,” he added.
Barzinji called on the international community to help the region overcome this challenge.
He said that wounded military personnel are also treated in Erbil hospitals, increasing the pressure on the health institutions.
“An estimated 746, 840,000 IQD has been spent on only two hospitals and %95 of the efforts are to treat Mosul IDPs," he maintained.
Barzinji blamed the Iraqi government fo not doing enough to help Erbil and urged Baghdad to do something otherwise "A catastrophe may occur if shortage of medicine continues,"
Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani who addressed the health conference agreed that Baghdad must step in to help.
"We are happy and proud to treat the wounded of Mosul but in fact, Baghdad has to take responsibility for that, they should feel it is their responsibility." Barzani said.
During a visit to Erbil in early December, Hazim Jumaili, Iraq's deputy health minister admitted that both the Iraqi government and the KRG were dealing with a severe humanitarian crisis.
“The Kurdistan Region has been affected by the crisis the most,” he said.
