Syrian refugees flee to Iraq
There are at least 1.65 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in the north east. The current escalation puts the lives of 450,000 people who live within 5 kilometres of the Syria-Turkey border at risk. The military intervention has already displaced more than 200,000 people into other parts of Syria and is pushing Syrians across the border with Iraq. Hundreds of them are reaching the Kurdistan region to seek safety, refuge and assistance.
Syrian refugees are crossing the border and entering the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. They are then hosted by Kurdish authorities in reception centers before being transferred to Bardarash camp in Dohuk governorate where they will receive comprehensive humanitarian assistance. We expect an increasing number of refugees in the next weeks and months in Iraq – estimated up to 50,000 until January.
NRC and the rest of the humanitarian community are supporting refugees with emergency response. NRC will specifically distribute water at the border as well as non-food items, health and hygiene kits in camps. The education team is also in the camp assessing education needs to start emergency education activities soon.
Rifaa and her family, newly arrived in Bardarash camp after a long journey through north east Syria and Iraq
Date: 17 October 2019
The majority of refugees report having to pay smugglers to be able to cross the border and enter Iraq.
Rifaa is from Qamishli, she recently arrived in Bardarash camp with her family. "I am here with my husband and my 3 daughters. I was sitting in Qamishli and suddenly Turks dropped bombs on us. We didn’t even know how to escape, we did not have a car. Many were killed. There were dead bodies on the streets.
We found a smuggler to bring us to Kurdistan and we gave them the amount of the money they asked for to save ourselves.
We paid 2,000$ for 5 people. We saved our lives but we suffered.
It took us 5 hours. It was difficult because of brambles, illness, the lack of water, and it was dark. We had so much difficulties, my older daughter had leg surgery a while ago. I feared she would be left behind. She was not able to walk and my husband is sick.
They did not want Rojava to be empty. Rojava is getting empty of people and if Rojava is empty, Turks will take it over," said Rifaa from Qamishli.
NRC call on waring parties to protect civilians and allow safe passages for everyone fleeing from the fighting and seeking refuge in Iraq. This is critical for them to be able to receive comprehensive assistance as most of humanitarian organizations have left north-east Syria.
Photo: Tom Peyre-Costa/NRC
