United States Committed to Supporting Syrian Refugees

U.S. Consul General Paul Sutphin reaffirmed the U.S. Government’s continuing commitment to assisting Syrian refugees in Iraq during a January 29 visit to the Domiz refugee camp in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s Dohuk province. The Consul General’s delegation visited the camp to learn firsthand about the living conditions of the over 35,000 Syrian refugees currently residing there. Sutphin also met with Sokol Kondi, Director of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq’s (UNAMI) Regional Office in Erbil, and Bushra Halepota, Director of the Erbil Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and commended the United Nations (UN), the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for their efforts to provide safety, food, and shelter for Syrian refugees throughout Iraq. Consul General Sutphin noted that the U.S. provides significant funding for Syrian refugee relief in Iraq. To date, the U.S. Government is providing $365 million in assistance, including funding UNHCR, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and World Food Program (WFP) operations to support those suffering inside Syria and Syrian refugees in Iraq and in neighboring countries. The United States provides funding for food aid, medical supplies, emergency and basic health care, shelter materials, clean water, hygiene education and supplies, and other relief supplies — including blankets and heaters — to help those affected by the crisis in Syria, including a recent contribution of needed non-food items from the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil. U.S. Consulate General officials observed conditions throughout the camp, and met with refugees who shared their views with the delegation. They received briefings on refugee processing, visited the camp’s health clinic and schools, and received an overview of a range of U.S. Government-funded activities in the camp, including the successful WFP food voucher program. The U.S. delegation also met with KRG officials and representatives from non-governmental organizations operating at the camps to discuss ways to improve the humanitarian situation.

For more information please contact the U.S. Consulate General’s Press Office at 0770 443 1653.