As IDPs leave
Ashti Camp undergoes reorganization amid security requests
SULAYMANIYAH — Ashti Camp, located in Sulaymaniyah’s Arbat subdistrict, is undergoing an inventory and reorganization process, according to camp officials. Daban Mohammed, the head of the Arbat subdistrict, told 964media that they “have requested security forces to protect the camp.”
Established a decade ago, Ashti Camp has housed both Yazidi Kurds and displaced Arabs from Salah Al-Din Governorate. The camp spans 74 acres and contains 2,630 residential units made from blocks and tents.
Following the recent vacancy of the camp, Amer Adel, the director of Ashti Camp, told 964media, “After the camp was vacated, we began organizing and re-evaluating its assets.” He also noted that the camp remains fully equipped with essential services such as water, electricity, and roads.
The camp has been the subject of rumors regarding the potential settlement of Iranian Kurdish political refugees and their families. Adel addressed these speculations, stating, “There have been many rumors. Previously, it was said that Gaza refugees would come, and now it is said that Iranian refugees will come. These are all rumors; we have not received any official documents.”
Kurdish political refugees from Iran currently reside in areas around Sulaymaniyah and Erbil’s Koya district. These activists have faced pressures to relocate, including to Ashti Camp and Surdash in Dukan.
Mohammed reiterated that there is no formal decision to relocate these refugees to Ashti Camp, emphasizing, “There is no decision of this kind, and I believe this is a rumor without any official basis.”
On the topic of security, Mohammed commented, “The camp has a small security force. We have requested additional security personnel from the Ministry of Peshmerga or the Ministry of Interior to ensure the camp’s safety.”
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