Bêwar Emîn, spokesperson for the Foreign Relations Committee of the Martyr Rustem Cûdî (Maxmur) Refugee Camp, stated in an interview with ANF that the camp has been under an embargo imposed by the KDP on July 17, 2019 and another embargo imposed by the Iraqi state on April 10, 2025.
Education, healthcare, and municipal needs are not met
Emphasizing that the embargo has negatively affected living conditions in the camp, Bêwar Emîn said, “There is an embargo imposed on our camp by the KDP and Iraq. People’s identity documents are not renewed, and they are not allowed to enter the camp with construction materials to build their homes. Similarly, there are issues related to education; our students are not allowed to attend universities. Education, healthcare, and municipal needs are not being met in the camp. Various obstacles are being placed in our way. There are many people in the camp with chronic illnesses, but they are being prevented from receiving treatment. Most municipal projects are unfinished, and construction materials are not allowed into the camp.”
The rights of the camp residents are arbitrarily violated
Bêwar Emîn continued: “The rights of the camp residents are being arbitrarily violated. The camp residents have been living here for 30 years. Both the United Nations and the Iraqi government recognize us. But now we are being arbitrarily disregarded. The issue of identity is particularly serious because our movements are being restricted. Administrative issues are also being created for us. Despite the fact that our IDs have expired, they have not been renewed.”
Students are deprived of their right to education
Bêwar Emîn remarked that university students in Maxmur have been deprived of their right to education for five years, and continued: “The children receive education here for 12 years thanks to the efforts of their parents, but when it comes time for university, they cannot study. This situation has a huge impact on young people. University students are now forced to work in construction. We have sick people, and according to the law, the state is obligated to treat them or the United Nations should provide support. Unfortunately, nothing is being done except creating obstacles. All of this is part of the embargo imposed on us. Our people are dissatisfied with Iraq’s stance.”
Recognize the legal rights of the refugees in the camp!
Calling on Iraq to abandon these policies, Bêwar Emîn said, “We have been refugees in Iraq for 30 years. None of the problems of the camp’s people have been solved by Iraq. The Arab people are a hospitable people, but we see that certain circles within the government are establishing wrongful relations with the Turkish state, thereby standing against us. The camp residents are resilient and have never yielded to any pressure. If necessary, they will exercise their democratic rights and claim their rights. In conclusion, the embargo on the camp continues, and we reiterate our call: put an end to this pressure and recognize the legal rights of the refugees in the camp.”
Source: ANF News
