Despite the arrival of the cold season, no heating fuel has been distributed to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in the camps of Duhok.
Ghazwan Rasho, an IDP in Shariya camp, told KirkukNow that the camp’s residents cover themselves with blankets and go to bed as soon as night falls due to lack of heating fuel.
In previous years, the Iraqi Ministry of Immigration and Displacement would distribute heating fuel among the IDPs in the camps.
Ghazwan said that, “last year about this time, we had received kerosene. It seems that officials think it is still summer, not winter,” he continued, “we are cold and live in miserable conditions.”
Ghazwan lives in an old, overused tent with his two sisters and three brothers for six years.
The IDPs cannot afford buying heating fuel themselves. Heating fuel kerosene costs $0.45 to $0.50 per litre.
“I don’t have money to buy kerosene. I would have to borrow money. And if I borrow, how am I supposed to pay it back as we are all jobless?” Ghazwan said, adding that they request the Iraqi government to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
I don’t have money to buy kerosene. I would have to borrow money. And if I borrow, how am I supposed to pay it back as we are all jobless?
Qaso Sa’eed, an IDP from Shingal who resides in Bérsiv camp in Zakho, Duhok, told KirkukNow: “We are suffering from the cold, especially the children. We do have an electric heater, but there is only eight hours of electricity feed per day and that is only during daytime, not night-time.”
Ismael Muhammad, Duhok’s deputy governor for displacement affairs, told KirkukNow that they are not responsible for that issue, because the Iraqi Ministry of Immigration and Displacement has been distributing kerosene in previous years.
We are not responsible for that issue, because the Iraqi Ministry of Immigration and Displacement has been distributing kerosene in previous years
“We’ve done our tasks: collecting all the correct data and information and sending it to the ministry. They must do their part.”
Askandar Muhammad Amin, director of Duhok’s office for migration and displacement, said that if things go according to plan, they will start distributing kerosene next week.
He told KirkukNow: “We have changed the manner of distributing kerosene this year. It will be done in three stages. The first stage consists of 100 litres [per family] and it will start next week.”
“We will start with the camps in the coldest regions,” Amin added.
