Ongoing fighting between Iranian military forces and Iraqi Kurdish
separatists has led to the displacement of hundreds of families
living in villages near the Iraq-Iran border in the northern Iraqi
governorate of Sulaymaniya.

IOM is monitoring this situation closely to assess the needs of
these displaced families, and has provided initial relief to 175
families from the village of Qeladze in a distribution on July
21.

The families had been forced to abandon their homes and move to
a camp several miles away after numerous artillery strikes on their
village. One villager was reported wounded by the strikes, which
damaged several homes and the local school.

IOM responded to initial reports of shelling in Qeladze by
sending an assessment team on July 19, in cooperation with local
authorities and partner humanitarian agencies including ICRC and
UNHCR.

Standing in his kitchen surrounded by broken glass and shrapnel,
a resident of Qeladze described to IOM staff how an artillery shell
had narrowly missed hitting him and his family. "The shells are
like insects," he said, "you never hear them coming. Thank God my
family and I were in the other room when this came through our
window."

The assessment team surveyed the needs of the community and
immediately dispatched relief supplies from the IOM emergency
warehouse in the neighbouring governorate of Erbil. Each family
received bed frames, mattresses, a carpet, pillows, plastic
furniture and a water purification kit.

"These supplies will hopefully ease the burden on these families
while they are unable to return to their homes," said IOM Chief of
Mission Michael Pillinger. "Amidst the numerous other challenges
facing Iraq, it is important to not lose sight of the damage caused
by this ongoing border conflict."

In addition to distributing relief supplies, IOM constructed a
temporary clinic at the camp, to be run by local doctors and
medical assistants. The clinic was equipped with beds as well as a
water filter unit.

While the families IOM spoke with were relieved to be away from
the danger of the shelling, many expressed concern about the
future. "These supplies will help us during this difficult time,"
said a community leader, "but there is really no replacement for
our homes."

Further families were reported to be displaced on Friday and
over the weekend due to continued shelling along the border in
Sulaymaniya as well as in Erbil. Further assessment visits are
planned in order to meet with these families and determine what
assistance they require.

For further information please contact:

Matthew Graydon at IOM Iraq mission

Tel: +964 750 194 1774

E-mail: "mailto:mgraydon@iom.int">mgraydon@iom.int