The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement announced financial aid for 300 Yazidi families who have recently returned to Sinjar (Şengal). Each family received four million Iraqi dinars to support their reintegration following their displacement. This assistance is part of ongoing efforts to aid those affected by conflict.
The aid follows the recent return of over 800 Yazidi families from camps controlled by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Duhok. Fearing for their safety amid rising hate speech and threats of attacks, these families sought refuge in Sinjar. Muhammed Arif, a member of the Nineveh Provincial Council, noted that escalating threats prompted the move. “The recent statements by Kasım Şeşo highlighted the dangers these families face, prompting them to return to Sinjar,” Arif said. Local authorities and security forces are assisting the returnees, with more expected to follow.
Tensions in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) have intensified due to inflammatory rhetoric from local imams and KDP-affiliated media against the Yazidi refugees. This has increased fears among Yazidis, leading many to leave the KDP-controlled camps. The Sinjar Autonomous Administration and Yazidi internal security forces (Asayiş) are providing support to the returnees.
The Sinjar Autonomous Administration has urged the Iraqi government to enhance security for the Yazidi community. In response to growing threats, various local groups have issued a joint statement calling for protection of Yazidis and the promotion of peaceful coexistence among all religious groups in Iraq. The statement emphasised the historical ties between Yazidis and their Muslim and Christian neighbours and condemned rhetoric aimed at undermining these relationships. It also urged Islamic institutions to address the rise in threats and called on the Iraqi government to prevent further violence.
The Democratic Society Congress (DTK) has warned the KDP about the threats against Yazidis, particularly those fleeing KDP-controlled camps. The DTK condemned the KDP for endangering the Yazidi community for personal gain and accused it of abandoning Yazidis during the 2014 ISIS attacks. The DTK called for international intervention to prevent further harm and urged Kurdish parties and organisations to actively oppose these threats.
