ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An 11-year-old girl has become the first Lebanese refugee to enroll in the education system in Iraq, two weeks after her family arrived in the country to escape the escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Rana Remon, a fifth-grade student, is happy about continuing her education in Iraq after her family was displaced from Lebanon. They are staying in Jizani al-Joul village, in the eastern Diyala province. “I love studying and my parents encouraged me to study here in Iraq. When I grow up, I want to become a fashion designer, and God willing I will achieve this dream,” she told Rudaw. About 8,000 Lebanese citizens have arrived in Iraq since the start of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, according to Karim al-Nouri, undersecretary for Iraq’s migration and displaced ministry. The refugees are mostly being settled in the Baghdad, Karbala, Najaf, and Salahaddin provinces. On Monday, Nouri said that Baghdad does not plan to set up camps for incoming Lebanese refugees, emphasizing that “it is not appropriate to place guests in camps.” Iraq officially labels Lebanese citizens fleeing the conflict as “guests of Iraq.” Abu Ali al-Maamouri, a Jizani al-Joul resident, said that the village’s residents have prepared 30 houses for welcoming the displaced Lebanese people in the area. “We welcomed our Lebanese brothers in the area and we have 30 ready houses, fully equipped with all necessities for resting,” Maamouri said. Last week, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani approved the allocation of three billion dinars (about $2.27 million) to the migration ministry to assist Lebanese refugees arriving in the country. On Tuesday, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society told state media that the society has sent 150 tons of food supplies and aid to Lebanon since the conflict began. Israeli bombardments have killed 2,255 people and injured 10,524 others in Lebanon, according to data compiled by the Lebanese health ministry. Nearly a quarter of the population, 1.2 million people, have been displaced, Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said earlier this month. Hunar Hamid contributed to this report.
