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More Syrians Escaping into Northern Iraq

Dale Gavlak

   AMMAN, JORDAN - Aid workers in northern Iraq say they are seeing
   increasing numbers of Syrians fleeing over the border into the mainly
   Kurdish region as the cease-fire in northeastern Syria is about to
   expire.

   In the past day alone, the Norwegian Refugee Council reports that 1,736
   Syrians crossed into Iraq, the highest number to cross in one day since
   the beginning of Turkey's military operation.

   They say that many have escaped with just the clothes on their backs.

   Ibrahim Barsoum is a program officer working with Syrian refugees for
   the Christian Aid Program Northern Iraq, run by a Catholic priest,
   Father Emanuel Youkhana. The group has been helping Iraqis displaced by
   Islamic State militants. Barsoum says the KRI, or Iraq's Kurdistan
   Region authority, facilitates their transfer into the country.

   "Usually the families come through the night because they are not
   allowed, for some reason, to cross the borders over there, Barsoum
   said. "They come with smugglers or just cross the borders through the
   night. The security forces for KRI receive them. "

   Barsoum said that the U.N. refugee agency is taking the lead in
   providing shelter in a number of northern Iraq's existing camps, some
   already hosting Yazidis, victims of Islamic State attacks in 2014. He
   said that many have escaped Turkish bombardment and attacks from Syrian
   militias allied with Turkey with just the clothes on their backs.

   "Many of them need immediate and urgent support," Barsoum said. "Food
   and basic needs for winter time--blankets and clothes, even. They don't
   have it. They just ran to save their lives and their kids' lives. It is
   a tragedy. "

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