Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (KRG.org) - Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq and his accompanying delegation on Thursday.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked Mr Saleh for visiting Duhok province to closely examine the situation of the displaced. He stressed that KRG has been making every effort to help the IDPs but their needs are beyond the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) capacity. The Iraqi government and the international community therefore should help, and Iraq should shoulder its responsibilities in this regard, he said.

The Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister commended the government and the people of Kurdistan for embracing and aiding the displaced. He added that they will closely follow the situation of the IDPs and provide assistance, mentioning the relevant Iraqi bodies and their cooperation with organizations in the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani stressed that serious work is needed to protect the displaced from cold and outbreaks of disease before the start of winter. He therefore urged both the Iraqi government and United Nations agencies to increase their efforts especially in Duhok province, which is currently accommodating 50 percent of IDPs.

The meeting also covered the newly formed Iraqi government and the participation of the Kurds in Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s cabinet. Prime Minister Barzani stressed that the Kurdistan Region wants the participation of all the Kurdish political parties in the new Iraqi government. The meeting also discussed the latest security and military developments and the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) terrorists.