Erbil cancels New Year celebrations as respect to flood victims, martyrs

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Erbil province will no longer be holding official New Year’s Eve celebrations out of respect for the people who died in Friday’s flash floods in the Kurdistan Region, as well as Peshmerga and civilians recently killed by Islamic State (ISIS) militants, the governor said on Sunday.

“We are nearing New Year. Out of respect for our victims, for the families that were impacted, the souls of our martyrs, a number of Peshmerga and civilians were martyred at the hands of terrorists, we will announce that this year, as Erbil province, we will not have any official celebrations,” Omed Khoshnaw said at a press conference on Sunday.

A heavy rainstorm hit the Kurdish capital in the early hours of Friday, causing significant material damage and casualties in several neighborhoods.

Twelve people, including two Nepalese and a Turkish citizen, died in the flooding, according to Khoshnaw. Two victims are yet to be found, namely shepherd Omed Shamil and ten-month-old Danar Nabaz.

The father of the infant told Rudaw that the child fell from his arms as he tried to help his three other children.

The US consulate in Erbil extended its condolences to the families affected by the floods on Sunday. 

 

Erbil suffers from an inadequate water supply distribution network and an unsustainable drainage system.

In addition to the damage to a “large number” of agricultural land and livestock, over 400 houses were impacted by the flooding, with their walls, doors, and windows destroyed. Additionally, 867 vehicles were damaged. Bridges, schools, water and electricity networks were impaired, as well as over 150 stores, markets, car exhibitions, and garages.

The damage is estimated at 20 to 21 billion Iraqi dinars.

Erbil province often faces severe floods in the colder seasons of the year. This is the second occurrence of flash flooding this year. Nearly 600 houses suffered material damage in the first strong rainfall of the year in late October. In past years, several neighborhoods of Erbil have been severely impacted by floods. 

More heavy rain is expected in the coming days, according to the Region's meteorology department.

The New Year’s celebrations were also canceled due to an increased number of attacks by ISIS in areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad.

The terror group has launched a number of fatal attacks since November 27 in disputed territories, killing 22 Kurdish soldiers, three civilians, and two members of the Iraqi army.