New UNDP Country Director assures KRG of more exposure for Syrian refugees
At a meeting attended by Assistant Head of DFR for International Organisations, Dr. Dindar Zebari, and Mr. Vehbi Selmani, Head of UNDP Office in Erbil, Mr Abdelmoula assured Minister Mustafa of his commitment to working with the KRG and the DFR to implement their programme and commended the already existing relationship.
Speaking on behalf of the KRG and the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Mustafa welcomed the new UNDP Director and assured him of his support for his tenure. He said, ‘What you see in Kurdistan today is due to the vision of the leadership as well as the KRG working hard to fulfill the promises it has made to the people.’ He added that the KRG believes in the capabilities and expertise of the UN, and views them as a partner.
Describing his first visit to Kurdistan, Mr. Abdelmoula said, ‘I was pleasantly surprised upon arriving here. I can see that the people and government are committed to building this place and making up for the many years of instability.’ The officials also discussed several UNDP projects underway in the Region. ‘We are trying to work on both the strategic upstream side by talking to decision and policy makers as well as working on a local level to ensure that policies are implemented on the ground that benefit the people,’ added Mr Abdelmoula.
Both sides also discussed the latest developments in Syria and the continued arrival of Syrian refugees in Kurdistan. Minister Mustafa called upon UNDP to assist in attracting more attention from the international community to those inside and outside of camps and expressed readiness to working with UNDP to benefit from its rich experience with technical assistance, reducing poverty and ensuring that assistance is given to those in need. Mr Abdelmoula provided assurances that UNDP will work with its partners on the ground to increase attention about Syrian refugees in Kurdistan.
