On Monday, February 17, 2020, a United Nations delegation headed by Mrs. Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights for the Internally Displaced Persons and accompanied delegation visited the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre (JCC).
In a meeting attended by JCC’s Director of Crisis Response, Mariwan Hassan, Director of Information Management, Ali Saed and Director of Resource Mobilization, Srwa Rasool both sides discussed the humanitarian situation in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
Mariwan Hassan, Director of Crisis Response, warmly welcomed the delegation and gave an overview about the JCC’s role and mandated activities since its establishment in 2014. He then briefly talked about all the activities and projects that have been carried out and implemented since the establishment of the JCC.
Mr. Mariwan also talked about crises that have been facing the Region since 2014 particularly the protracted displacement of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and refugees, stating that the war on ISIS, budget cut by the federal government, low oil prices and influx of IDPs and refugees have limited the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) efforts to address the challenges. Also mentioned the challenges before the return of the IDPs to their areas of origin and the causes that impede the process of return.
Director of Information Management briefed the delegation about the security situation in the liberated areas as well as the number of IDPs and refugees in the Kurdistan Region.
Mrs. Cecilia stated that the aim of the visit is to prepare a report about the current humanitarian situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and the existing challenges before the return of the IDPs. She praised the role of the Kurdistan Region for its open-door policy to receive the IDPs and refugees and provide them with services.
