The presidential statement quoted Barzani as saying that the international community, UN organizations and European countries did not provide Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan region with assistance, and that Barzani asked him to encourage the international community to help the Syrian refugees present in the Kurdistan region.
Dindar Zebari, deputy head of the KRG's Department of Foreign Relations, told Al-Monitor in a statement that there are more than 145,000 Syrian refugees and displaced persons who are temporarily residing in the three main provinces of the Kurdistan region — Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk.
Zebari explained that there are more than 100,000 Syrian refugees in Dohuk province — on the border with Syria and Turkey — more than 30,000 in Erbil, and nearly 15,000 in Salaimaniyah.
Zebari confirmed that the only support they have received was provided by the KRG. So far, it amounts to more than $20 million from the KRG budget.
He added, “More than $20 million was disbursed from the limited budget of the KRG in two payments; $10 million several months ago, and another $10 million two weeks ago.”
The KRG receives 17% of the total federal budget of Iraq. In 2013, the Kurdistan region received nearly $18 billion.
According to unofficial statistics, the population in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region numbers more than 5 million.
Zebari noted that the local authorities’ support is designed to fulfill basic needs in the main camp in Domiz, the largest Syrian refugee camp in Iraq.
He added, "There is a plan to build two additional camps in both Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, where 15,000 refugees can be resettled in each camp.”
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