Sulaymaniyah cancels Christmas, New Year celebrations after Chamchamal floods

SULAYMANIYAH — Sulaymaniyah Gov. Haval Abubakir announced that no official Christmas and New Year celebrations will be held across the governorate, citing recent incidents in Chamchamal district and the Garmian autonomous administration.

In a statement, Abubakir extended greetings to Christians in Sulaymaniyah, the Kurdistan Region and worldwide ahead of Christmas and the New Year.

“On the occasion of the approaching birthday of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) and the New Year, we extend our greetings to all our Christian sisters and brothers and to all the people of Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, and the world,” he said.

The governor said the decision to cancel official festivities was prompted by recent “disasters and abnormal incidents” in Chamchamal and Garmian that resulted in casualties, injuries and significant damage.

“In solidarity and sympathy with all affected,” the statement said, Sulaymaniyah will not hold official celebrations.

Chamchamal and surrounding areas were hit by heavy rainfall earlier this month, causing widespread flooding that left people dead and injured and damaged homes, roads and water infrastructure, prompting fundraising campaigns across the Kurdistan Region to support affected families. Several senior officials in Chamchamal have stepped down following the district’s floods.