UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...
UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...
UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...
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and generally describe the three Northern Governorates as a “safe haven” for Iraqis of<br />
various religious and ethnic backgrounds. 819<br />
On the one hand, the KRG authorities have admitted a considerable number of IDPs,<br />
provided limited financial/material assistance to some groups of new IDPs, 820 assisted in<br />
securing new jobs and housing for some and established schools teaching in Arabic, though<br />
hardly sufficient to absorb increasing numbers of IDPs. Also, Kurdish officials seized the<br />
chance to strengthen their workforce, be it labourers in the booming construction sector,<br />
much needed doctors and dentists in the health sector, 821 academics in Kurdish universities<br />
or civil servants in the KRG ministries. 822 On the other hand, however, a significant<br />
number of IDPs face difficulties or may be prevented from finding protection in the three<br />
Northern Governorates, be it that they would not be admitted, may not be able to legalize<br />
their stay, fear continued persecution or face undue hardship to make their living, as<br />
unemployment is high and assistance is provided to few. Furthermore, the influx has<br />
squeezed already strained public services (in particular the provision of water, fuel and<br />
electricity), the lack of which has been the cause for demonstrations and public unrest<br />
across the Governorates of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in 2005 and 2006. 823 The prevailing<br />
housing crisis has been further exacerbated and rents are increasing. 824 The local authorities<br />
The majority of families are Arabs (both Shi’ite and Sunni), Kurds (with links to the Governorate), Christians<br />
(mainly Chaldeans originating from the Governorate as well as some Christians from Baghdad and Basrah)<br />
and some Turkmen. See: Cluster F, Update 23 May 2007, see above footnote 22.<br />
819 See, for example, Omar Sinan, Iraqi Arabs seek sanctuary in Kurdish north, AP, 7 February 2007,<br />
http://news.lp. findlaw.com/ap/o/51/02-07-2007/0669002c4b47f08f.html; Mohammed A. Salih, Students,<br />
Professors Flee to the Kurdish North, IPS, 26 January 2007, http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36329;<br />
Senanayake, Iraq: Growing Numbers Flee Sectarian Violence, see above footnote 196; Shamal Aqrawi,<br />
Christians, Muslims flee Baghdad for Kurdistan, Reuters, 23 January 2007, http://www.iraqupdates.com/<br />
p_articles.php/article/13779. See also: IWPR, Kurdistan Bolstered by Influx of Arab Academics, Iraqi Crisis<br />
Report No. 209, 19 January 2007, http://iwpr.net/?p=icr&s=f&o=328622&apc_state=henh; ibidem, Iraqi<br />
Kurdistan safe haven for fleeing Arabs, Iraqi Crisis Report No. 198, 13 October 2006, http://iwpr.net/?p=<br />
icr&s=f&o=324561&apc_state=henpicr; The Economist, From killing zone to safe haven, 10 August 2006,<br />
http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7281204.<br />
820 Christian IDPs in the Governorates of Erbil and Dahuk, who originate from the Kurdistan Region,<br />
currently receive a monthly allowance by the Ministry of Finance headed by Sarkis Aghajan (US $65 in the<br />
Governorate of Dahuk, US $100 in the Governorate of Erbil).<br />
821 According to Sulaymaniyah Director General of Health, Dr. Sherko Abdullah, 150 doctors from central<br />
and southern parts of Iraq have come to Sulaymaniyah Governorate since 2003. The local authorities provide<br />
the doctors with rental assistance (US $200/month) and help them set up their own clinics or find a job public<br />
hospitals and health centres, see Hawlati, Arab Doctors Head for Kurdistan, published and translated by Iraqi<br />
Press Monitor, No. 563, 8 November 2006, http://iwpr.net/?apc_state=henmicr&o=c-1-1162944000-2-<br />
1163030400-3-icr&o1=month-11,year-2006&month=11&year=2006.<br />
822 IWPR, Iraqi Kurdistan safe haven for fleeing Arabs, see above footnote 819; The Economist, From<br />
killing zone to safe haven, 10 August 2006, http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm<br />
?story_id=7281204.<br />
823 See, for example, RFE/RL, Iraq: Kurds Call For More Government Accountability, 9 August 2006,<br />
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/08/b502064d-63c7-484b-adcf-91b92c3d0d07.html; IWPR, Kurds<br />
Protest Energy Shortages, Iraq Crisis Report No. 184, 7 July 2006, http://www.iwpr.net/?p=icr&s=f&o=<br />
322133&apc_state=henh; IRIN, Iraq: Kurdish authorities vow to upgrade services after protests, 19 March<br />
2006, http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=26206.<br />
824 A two-room apartment in Ainkawa, a town near Erbil, where many Christian IDPs have settled, currently<br />
costs at least US $ 500 a month, with more spacious properties costing double; see AFP, Iraq Christians Flee<br />
Baghdad for Peace and Hardship in the North, 26 June 2006, http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/<br />
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