Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench) on Wednesday, 3 May 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 May 2023. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Wednesday, 17 May 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Iraq: Refugees

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the number, and (2) the humanitarian situation, of refugees, including Yazidis, who remain in camps in (a) the autonomous region of north-east Syria, and (b) Kurdistan, following the defeat of ISIS; and what steps they are taking to expedite their return home.

Answer: The UK remains committed to the safety and security of refugees, including Yazidis in North-East Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Due to the shifting circumstances on the ground we are not in a position to make an accurate estimate of their number. When appropriate we raise the troubling humanitarian situation in refugee camps with the relevant authorities. Durable solutions must be pursued for displaced populations, including return, relocation, or local integration, where appropriate. We regularly raise this with the relevant authorities, the Iraq Government, UN bodies, international partners and our development programming in Iraq will support these efforts.

Secondary information