17 December 2017
The joint quarterly meeting chaired by Mr. Hoshang Mohamed, Director General of the JCC, and Ms. Kelly Gilbride, Executive Director of the NGO Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI) and attended by Dr. Sami Jalal, Director General of the Diwan at the Ministry of Interior.
Mr. Hoshang, on behalf of the KRG extended thanks and appreciation to the humanitarian role the INGOs are playing in supporting the KRG’s efforts to help the displaced people in Kurdistan. He briefed the participants on the humanitarian situation, gaps and needs of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and refugees in the Kurdistan Region and continued services provided to them by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), stating that the crises in the Region have worsened due to the earthquake and the new displacement from Kirkuk, Khurmatu and other Kurdistani areas outside of the KRG administration, following the attacks by the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi, and called upon the INGOs to make more efforts for delivering humanitarian assistance for the IDPs, refugees and the host communities. And he added that the JCC continues to facilitate and coordinate the work of the NGOs in the Kurdistan Region as there is no change in previous policies and procedures.
Mrs. Kelly, the Executive Director of the NCCI thanked the KRG and MoI for the continued cooperation and facilitations for the NGOs in the Kurdistan Region and thanked JCC for its leading role and continued efforts in responding to the humanitarian crisis and supporting the international NGOs.
Dr. Sami Jalal briefed the attendees about the policy and instructions of e-visas and residency issuance for the staff of the international NGOs in the Kurdistan Region, and stated that the Ministry of Interior has made all efforts to facilitate and fast-track the visa and residency process for the foreign staff of the NGOs.
Then, Dr. Sami delivered a presentation explained the procedures and technical steps for the e-visa process for the NGOs when applying for visa and residency online. He said that the e-visa system that is currently available in Kurdish language has facilitated the process and for better facilitation the English version of the portal will be launched in the beginning of the New Year. He reiterated Ministry of Interior’s full support for the work of the NGOs in the Kurdistan Region.
