Erbil, Kurdistan (KRG.org) – The situation of Syrian refugees and Iraq’s internal displaced people, many of whom have fled to the Kurdistan Region because of the deteriorating security situation in Syria and Iraq, was the main subject of yesterday’s meeting between Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and United Nations World Food Programme Executive Director Ertharin Cousin.

Executive Director Cousin expressed her organization’s gratitude to the Kurdistan Regional Government for the assistance it has provided to the refugees and internally displaced people. She reiterated the importance of cooperation and coordination among all of the relevant international and local organizations in assisting the refugees, noting that the persistence of the situation and the increasing numbers of refugees and displaced people are matters of concern. She emphasised the importance of coordination in addressing any new emerging developments.

Prime Minister Barzani explained that the KRG has spared no effort in providing assistance to the refugees, but the main responsibility for this matter lies with the Iraqi government and the international community. He said that they should also fulfill their duties and pay serious attention to the Syrian refugees and Iraq’s internally displaced people, highlighting his concern that further developments could lead to more refugees and displaced citizens.

The Prime Minister called upon the Iraqi government to create an appropriate mechanism to pay the salaries of those government employees who have taken refuge in the Kurdistan Region after fleeing violence in Anbar governorate earlier this year or fleeing Mosul and other parts of Iraq after the recent attacks there. He also called upon the federal government to establish a monthly food distribution system in camps for internally displaced people.

The Kurdistan Region currently hosts hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people.