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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In order to access the three Northern Governorates from other parts of Iraq, all Iraqis,<br />
including Kurds, must go through checkpoints at the unofficial borders (the so-called<br />
“green line”) between Central Iraq and the KRG-administered area. Other areas along the<br />
unofficial border have been heavily mined in the past decade and are regularly patrolled by<br />
Kurdish Peshmerga. Such conditions make it nearly impossible for persons to cross into the<br />
three Northern Governorates through the countryside without endangering themselves.<br />
Therefore, entry through the few major roads and their checkpoints is, practically, the only<br />
option available.<br />
There are regular flights by Iraqi Airways between Baghdad and Sulaymaniyah and<br />
Baghdad and Erbil. A one-way ticket costs US $95 (to Erbil) and US $60 (to<br />
Sulaymaniyah), an amount that cannot be borne by many for economic reasons. In addition,<br />
the Baghdad airport road is not considered safe. 829<br />
ii. Entry Measures 830<br />
The Kurdish parties have introduced strict security measures at their checkpoints and<br />
persons not originating from the Region of Kurdistan, depending on their profile, may be<br />
denied entry into the Region of Kurdistan. Despite the unification of the administrations in<br />
the Region of Kurdistan, the three Governorates of Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and Dahuk<br />
continue to apply their independent entry and residency measures.<br />
Governorate of Sulaymaniyah<br />
In the Governorate of Sulaymaniyah, admission into the Governorate is generally not<br />
restricted and does not require a sponsor. 831 However, persons from arabized areas claimed<br />
by the PUK, i.e. Kirkuk and Khanaqeen in the Governorate of Diyala, are generally denied<br />
entry to the Governorate for political and demographic reasons, unless they only wish to<br />
come for a visit. 832 In that case, they are allowed entry but are not able to bring their<br />
belongings or a large amount of luggage with them.<br />
Persons arriving in Sulaymaniyah by airplane do not face any entry restrictions.<br />
829 See above “Travel by Air”.<br />
830 This Chapter is largely based on information obtained from UNAMI, UNHCR staff (checked with local<br />
authorities) and UNHCR’s implementing partners.<br />
831 There are special procedures applicable to persons wishing to relocate to the District of Kalar. An IDP<br />
first has to approach the security office in person and submit a petition requesting permission to relocate. The<br />
applicant needs a Kurdish sponsor who resides in Kalar. The sponsorship letter needs to be ratified by the<br />
Notary Public Office in Kalar. Only after these conditions have been met will the security officer provide the<br />
permission to relocate and to bring family members and belongings. Any applicant without a sponsor from<br />
Kalar will be denied permission to relocate. Once the IDP has moved to Kalar and rented a house, a letter<br />
from the Mukhtar (neighbourhood representative) needs to be submitted to the security office to confirm the<br />
IDPs’ address in Kalar.<br />
832 While Kurds are not permitted entry in order to maintain a Kurdish presence in these formerly arabized<br />
areas, Arabs, Turkmen, Yazidis and members of other religious or ethnic groups from disputed areas are<br />
denied entry as the authorities do not want to be confronted with the accusation of changing the demographics<br />
by relocating non-Kurds from these areas.<br />
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