Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, received last Tuesday the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, Mr. Peter Maurer, accompanied by the head of ICRC Erbil office and ICRC representative in Iraq.

Mr. Maurer praised the Kurdistan Regional Government for the efforts it exerts to improve human rights and prisoners conditions, stressing that the ICRC will continue to provide training courses to the relevant government bodies in the fields of human rights and administration of prisons.

Regarding the conditions of the refugees and internally displaced persons, who fled the violent repression of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and who took refuge in Kurdistan Region, Mr. Maurer stressed that ICRC will continue to assist the Kurdistan Regional Government in helping IDPs. He added that his organisation will also assist those displaced who desire to return back to their homes, particularly in the field of health and provision of medicine. To this end, the ICRC plans to open a special office in the Kurdistan Region, which would cover the organisation's activities in Iraq as well.

Prime Minister Barzani told ICRC president that the KRG institutions are ready to cooperate and coordinate with the ICRC. He expressed his gratitude for the training courses that are being provided by the ICRC to the relevant government bodies, as well as the organisation’s assistance and support to the IDPs and refugees.

Given the high number of civilians who fled ISIS violence and continuing security unrest, ICRC operation in Iraq is the organisation’s fourth largest operation in the world.