The Internally Displaced Person IDPs living in camps across Duhok northern province have not received any subsidized kerosene for heating this year, even as temperatures are expected to fall below freezing in the coming days.
Over 150,000 Ezidi (Yazidi) IDPs continue to live under tents in camps throughout the Kurdistan Region of Iraq KRI, and most are unable to afford kerosene on their own.
Dakhel Khalaf, a father of six who has been living in a camp for 11 years, described the situation as dire.
“Our conditions are extremely bad,” he told KirkukNow.
Khalaf managed to purchase 60 liters of kerosene at his own expense, an amount far below what families need during winter. On average, a household requires between at least daily five liters of kerosene for heating.
According to the Iraqi Meteorological Agency, temperatures are expected to drop below zero this week, with Duhok province potentially reaching minus five degrees Celsius. In response to the cold wave, local authorities in Sulaimaniya province announced a two-day closure (January 20 and 21) of schools and kindergartens.
No cares about us
“No cares about us,” Khalaf said. “We have not received any kerosene this year. Last year, each displaced family received 100 liters.”
The Kurdistan Regional Government KRG’s Duhok Migration and Displaced Office stated that it has submitted two requests to the Iraqi government to supply fuel to displaced families, but has received no response.
Qaso Salim, a resident of the Barsiv IDP camp in Zakho district of Duhok province, said living conditions have become unbearable.
“The cold is extremely harsh, and life in tents is very difficult. Some families cannot afford kerosene, and their children are suffering,” he said.
Pir Dyan Jaafar, in charge of Duhok Office for IDPs, explained that letters were sent to Baghdad before the start of winter and again afterward, but neither request received a reply.
The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced has repeatedly announced plans to close displacement camps nationwide, though disagreements between the federal government and the KRG have delayed implementation. KRG’s Interior Ministry officials have emphasized that IDPs cannot be forced to return without security guarantees, while the federal government has been accused of using aid suspension as pressure to evacuate the camps.
Last December, the Ministry of Migration distributed 100 liters of fuel to each displaced family, compared to at least two rounds of distribution in previous years.
