WASHINGTON DC – A group of US senators has called on Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to remove obstacles in delivering humanitarian assistance to refugees in the Kurdistan Region, urging him not to discriminate based on ethnicity, sect or religion.
“Despite pledges by your government and the international community to address this humanitarian crisis, we are deeply concerned that these critical resources are not reaching those who need them most,” a group of eight Republican and Democratic senators said in a letter to Abadi.
“With winter now settling in, it is imperative that these vulnerable civilians receive immediate and sustained assistance,” they added.
“We respectfully ask that you take every action to ensure there are no gaps or delays in aid distribution, and that available assistance is dispersed without any discrimination based on sect, ethnicity, or religion,” the letter urged.
Senior Kurdish officials have repeatedly complained that Baghdad has been sluggish in delivering international humanitarian and defense aid to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
According to UN reports, more than 1.5 million refugees are settled in the three-province Kurdistan Region, placing an enormous economic and social burden on the KRG. Baghdad has failed to take responsibility for providing for the refugees.
“We have heard firsthand about the suffering and harsh conditions facing these men, women, and children -- many of whom have taken refuge in Iraq’s Kurdistan region,” the senators said.
“These civilians are in dire need of basic necessities -- food, clean water, and shelter. In particular, we are concerned about the welfare of women and children -- who make up a majority of the displaced population,” the letter explained.
It commended the KRG for providing a safe haven for refugees who have escaped war in Syria and other parts of war-torn Iraq.
Kurdistan has kept its borders open to refugees escaping areas in Iraq controlled by the Islamic State (ISIS) since last summer, despite a freeze by Baghdad on running costs from the national budget for nearly a year.
“The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has stepped forward to provide sanctuary to many of these desperate individuals.
However, the sheer volume of the displaced has put a tremendous burden on the KRG,” the senators said.
They urged the Iraqi government to coordinate with the KRG and international organizations to ensure that aid is delivered on time.
The letter was signed by senators Christopher Coons, Tim Kaine , Ron Johnson, Dick Durbin, Marco Rubio, Jeanne Shaheen, Ed Markey and Barbara Boxer.
