KRG struggling to accommodate 250,000 IDP students
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdish government hopes to accommodate as many of the 250,000 refugee and internally displaced (IDPs) students living in the region by running two sets of classes in some 100 schools, thereby doubling the number of students studying in those institutions for the 2016 – 2017 school year.
They have asked for more help from Baghdad and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) as they anticipate thousands more school-aged people to flee to the region from the Mosul area.
“The KRG has provided all the humanitarian assistances to the refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), including the provision of a second shift in 100 schools for the refugee students,” said Pishtiwan Sadiq, the minister of education for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Sadiq added that the KRG has also provided land to set up portable classrooms for the refugees to study in.
Speaking at a press conference with Iraqi education minister Mohammed Iqbal following a tripartite meeting between the KRG, the Iraqi government, and UN officials in Erbil on Sunday, Sadiq revealed that mechanisms to take in as many refugee students as possible at schools in Kurdistan were discussed.
The Kurdish minister estimated that “250,000 refugee students are at refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region, but the KRG’s resources are limited to address the students’ needs.”
He urged the Iraqi government and international organizations to lift the burden on the KRG’s shoulders, especially now as another wave of displaced persons entering the Kurdistan Region is expected when the anticipated battle for Mosul begins in the near future.
“It is highly expected another large wave of refugees will flee to Kurdistan when the Mosul operation begins. This affects the education process in Kurdistan.”
The Iraqi education minister said that Baghdad will not neglect the KRG in the middle of the anticipated crisis as the region already hosts nearly two million refugees and IDPs.
“We will help the Kurdistan Region’s Education Ministry and we have assisted them in the past especially when the first wave of refugees fled to Kurdistan and they faced many challenges.”
He noted that Baghdad has opened up over 500 schools for refugee students, describing it as a “great achievement” as a result of cooperation between both sides.
They have asked for more help from Baghdad and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) as they anticipate thousands more school-aged people to flee to the region from the Mosul area.
“The KRG has provided all the humanitarian assistances to the refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), including the provision of a second shift in 100 schools for the refugee students,” said Pishtiwan Sadiq, the minister of education for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Sadiq added that the KRG has also provided land to set up portable classrooms for the refugees to study in.
Speaking at a press conference with Iraqi education minister Mohammed Iqbal following a tripartite meeting between the KRG, the Iraqi government, and UN officials in Erbil on Sunday, Sadiq revealed that mechanisms to take in as many refugee students as possible at schools in Kurdistan were discussed.
The Kurdish minister estimated that “250,000 refugee students are at refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region, but the KRG’s resources are limited to address the students’ needs.”
He urged the Iraqi government and international organizations to lift the burden on the KRG’s shoulders, especially now as another wave of displaced persons entering the Kurdistan Region is expected when the anticipated battle for Mosul begins in the near future.
“It is highly expected another large wave of refugees will flee to Kurdistan when the Mosul operation begins. This affects the education process in Kurdistan.”
The Iraqi education minister said that Baghdad will not neglect the KRG in the middle of the anticipated crisis as the region already hosts nearly two million refugees and IDPs.
“We will help the Kurdistan Region’s Education Ministry and we have assisted them in the past especially when the first wave of refugees fled to Kurdistan and they faced many challenges.”
He noted that Baghdad has opened up over 500 schools for refugee students, describing it as a “great achievement” as a result of cooperation between both sides.