UN assembly head commends Erbil’s humanitarian, military efforts against ISIS

NEW YORK, United States—President of the United Nations General Assembly seventieth session, Mogens Lykketoft, commended the Kurdistan Region on their humanitarian and military efforts in the war against Islamic State. He made his comments to Rudaw on Tuesday in advance of an upcoming session of the General Assembly focusing on refugee issues. 

The upcoming assembly’s session will be a high level summit of the members which will focus on refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in order to urge state members to increase their commitments to provide economic support for refugees. 

The UN needs $20 billion more annually to support refugees and IDPs as well as the countries receiving large numbers of refugees. 

Lykketoft acknowledged the role of the Kurdish government in both providing humanitarian assistance and in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).

He told Rudaw that the Kurdish region has done a tremendous job and is an important partner in the efforts to eradicate the caliphate. He expressed strong admiration for the regional government in Erbil.