Office opens in Halabja to support families returning from Europe and the U. S.

HALABJA — A new office under the Kurdistan Regional Government’s National Returnee Mechanism has been established in Halabja to assist families returning from Europe and the United States. The office aims to provide comprehensive support and facilitate their reintegration into the province, as part of a broader initiative led by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Joint Crisis Coordination Center.

The NRM, launched in Erbil in May 2023, is a program designed to support citizens returning to the Kurdistan Region after living abroad. With offices already operational in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok, the initiative offers seamless services to returning citizens, such as assistance in obtaining lost or expired national documents, securing housing, and accessing essential healthcare and education services. Additionally, the program helps families reintegrate into the local economy by facilitating employment opportunities and fostering sustainable livelihoods. The NRM operates under the KRG’s Ministry of Interior, supported by the International Organization for Migration and the European Union.

Faryad Najmuddin, Director of the JCC in Halabja, emphasized the importance of the program in an interview with 964media. “We are providing extensive assistance and facilitating the needs of families who are returning from Europe and the U. S. and wish to resettle in Halabja,” he said.

Najmuddin added, “Beyond official documentation support in any institution they may need, we also distribute various supplies and resources based on their requirements.”

He noted that the project is implemented by the Crisis Coordination Center under the Ministry of Interior, with financial backing from the German organization GIZ. Necessary materials and provisions have already been dispatched and will become operational in the near future.

The Joint Crisis Coordination Center, established in 2014 by the KRG’s Council of Ministers, serves as the Kurdistan Regional Government’s central institution for crisis and disaster management. It oversees all phases of crisis response, including risk assessment, mitigation, early warning, preparedness, response, and recovery, ensuring a coordinated and efficient approach to emergencies.

Iraq has experienced significant emigration over the past few decades, with many citizens seeking refuge and better opportunities abroad due to conflicts, political instability, and economic challenges.

As of 2017, approximately 1.68 million Iraqis had legally migrated to European Union countries, accounting for 4.4% of Iraq’s population. Germany and Sweden have been among the most common destinations within Europe.

In the United States, as of mid-2020, there were 256,028 Iraqi migrants. Since 2007, the U.S. has approved 119,202 Iraqi nationals for resettlement, with 84,902 arriving in the country.