KRG Preparing for Any Possible Exodus of Syrian Kurds: Official

The Kurdistan Regional Government is making all preparations to take in Kurds escaping from the Syrian Kurdish areas after the start of the Turkish military operation in the area, said a Kurdish official.

On Wednesday, the Turkish army together with its Syrian militia allies, crossed the northern Syrian borders as part of an operation to wipe out the Kurdish fighters of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) from the area, claiming its national security is under threat.

Duhok Governor Farhad Atroushi told reporters on Thursday that all relevant authorities of the KRG are now ordered to stay on alert and make all the necessary preparations in case the Syrian Kurds flee their homes to the Kurdistan Region.

Atroushi explained that the order was given by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani who urged to give assistance to anyone seeking refuge in Kurdistan.

According to Atroushi, the KRG has already prepared shelter for 3,000 people at the border areas in case it is needed.

Duhok is already home to more than 500,000 Iraqi IDPs and nearly 95,000 Syrian refugees who have escaped their homes as the result of the Islamic State (IS) threats.