The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), in cooperation with the British Consulate General, announced on Monday the launch of a strategic project aimed at tackling illegal migration and reducing the flow of migrants from the Kurdistan Region to European countries.
The announcement was made during a press conference by the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Safeen Dizayee, who said that "the issue of illegal migration is a global phenomenon that has also affected the Kurdistan Region." He noted that "many citizens resort to illegal routes to reach Europe and other countries such as Canada and the United States in search of what they believe are better opportunities, only to fall victim to human smuggling networks and traffickers," according to Shafaq News Agency.
Dizayee explained that "these unsafe journeys expose migrants to serious challenges and grave risks," highlighting the efforts made by the Kurdistan Regional Government over the past years to address the issue.
He cited the events of 2022 and 2023, when the Kurdistan Regional Government, in coordination with the Iraqi Embassy in Moscow, successfully repatriated more than 5,000 Kurdish citizens who had been stranded on the Belarusian border without any loss of life.
The Head of the Department of Foreign Relations stressed that the current phase requires a different approach, particularly as European countries have tightened their legal procedures for accepting asylum applications. He explained that the new project is being implemented through close coordination between the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Ministry of Interior, and the British Consulate, with the aim of establishing more effective mechanisms to curb illegal migration, while enforcing strict legal measures against human smuggling networks and traffickers who exploit the suffering of citizens.
Through this initiative, the Kurdistan Regional Government seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal migration and provide practical alternatives to discourage young people from falling prey to smuggling networks, thereby helping to protect their security and safety.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version. Read the Arabic version:Click here
