KRG Holds Emergency Meeting to Discuss Ongoing Developments in Iraq and Syria

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) held a meeting on Wednesday, which was chaired by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, to discuss the recent developments in Syria and “threats to Iraq’s stability."

Concerning the latest affairs in Syria, "Prime Minister Barzani strongly affirmed that any military escalation in the country’s north-east would have severe consequences beyond the Syrian border," according a readout of the meeting.

"Prime Minister Barzani called on all parties to engage in dialogue to de-escalate the situation and prevent the loss of innocent lives and further displacement of people towards vulnerable areas or the Kurdistan Region, which is still hosting over 1.1 million refugees."

Meanwhile, KRG's Ministry of Interior Rebar Ahmed briefed the officials with a report on the potential humanitarian crisis in northeastern Syria, as well as new possible mass displacements which could be hard to bear for the Kurdistan Region if faced "imminently."

Ahmed warned that the autonomous region could fail to respond to another influx of refugees alone, calling on the international community "to adapt their humanitarian assistance in Iraq and Syria to further support the Kurdistan Region."

 

The officials, during the meeting, further shed light on the recent protests in Iraq, with PM Barzani hoping that the situation would be normalized through a peaceful and swift resolution.