A Human Rights Association (IHD) delegation that visited the Hewler and Makhmur refugee camps has called on the Iraqi government and the UNHCR to resolve the problems at the camps.

The Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD) has announced its findings after a delegation visited the refugee camps in Makhmur and Hewler (Erbil), the capital of Federal Kurdistan, and met KCK leaders in Kandil.

The delegation visited the Human Rights Commission of the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament, and received information regarding those living in refugee camps.

South Kurdistan has a population of 5 million, and has 2 million refugees, the majority of whom are Turkmen and Arab. The IFD delegation was told that the Baghdad government has not provided aid for 8 months. The Regional government also asked for aid from Turkey. 

The delegation visited the Baharke camp near Hewler, remarking on its lack of infrastructure.

'The UNHCR must fulfil its obligations’

The IHD delegation also met municipal co-mayors, camp officials and camp residents at the Makhmur camp. People at the camp said they lived under the constant threat of attack by ISIS, adding that their only security was provided by the HPG/YJA Star guerrillas.

In its report the IHD said: "The people of Makhmur complained that the UNHCR had not fulfilled its obligations.”

From Makhmur the IHD delegation went to Kandil, where they met KCK co-presidents Bese Hozat and Cemil Bayık.

The KCK co-presidents told the delegation that the peace process was continuing thanks to the efforts of Öcalan, while the AKP was only giving the impression of seeking a solution.

‘Take responsibility for the refugees’

In the conclusion section of the report, the delegation called on the Iraqi  government and the international community to do more for the refugees in South Kurdistan. The IHD also stressed there was a need for co-ordination between the PKK/HPG guerrillas and peshmerga forces engaged in the defence of the region from the threat of ISIS.

The IHD report called on the UNHCR to resolve the problems at Makhmur camp, adding that it was necessary for both the Iraqi government and the regional government to play a more constructive role.