When the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi forces took over Tuz Khurmatu, Taza, Dakuk and Kirkuk, the Kurds living in those cities or in the districts and villages around, were forced to migrate.

According to the compiled information, about 150,000 people have migrated from Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu and surroundings. While people from Tuz Khurmati mainly migrated to the region of Kelar and Germiyan region, citizens from Kirkuk and surroundings left for Kara Incir or Chamchamal. Most of these people are hosted by the local people, whereas some have settled either in mosques or schools.

“THEY WANTED TO DEFILE OUR HONOR”

Muhammad Süleyman, who, with a family of 10, had to leave his home in Kirkuk's Pencali neighborhood and settled at the Salar Feke Mosque on the Navshivan road, because there was no place to stay at in Chamchamal, shared his impressions as following: "They sold us, the people, out in Kirkuk. Kirkuk was evacuated in less than no time. Children were scared of the sounds of weapons and battle. Then we heard that the Peshmerga had begun to flee. So we could not stay either anymore. The Peshmerga was our only assurance there. After they (Hashd al-Shaabi) came, they began to capture young people. In Tuz Khurmatu and other places they wanted to defile the people's honor. Such incidents were experienced in Tuz Khurmatu and other places before. We have daughters, small girls around us. Therefore, we could not stay there. We left and came here."

“THE PEOPLE OF CHAMCHAMAL TREATED US VERY WELL”

Mother Ğurbet stated that they are treated very well by the people of Chamchamal, but there are too many migrants to welcome and host, and people do not have the means to take care of all of them. She said: "Here, right now, we are a family of 10. There are 50 families like us, staying just in this mosque. You see our situation. As a family of ten, we manage with one single blanket we have. Can a family live with only one blanket? Winter is coming, we don't know what we are going to do. We want a solution to be found for our situation soon."

A YOUTH AT THE RESIDI MOSQUE

"One of the places in Chamchamal, where migrants from Kirkuk and few from Tuz Khurmatu stay, is the Residi mosque. We don't want to speak on television to not be a target for the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi because we hope to turn back our homes one day”, said an adolescent from Kirkuk's Pencali neighborhood, who prefers to remain anonymous. He explained their reasons for migrating as follows: "We had to leave our homes on October 19. On the first day, the Iraqi Army and Hashd al-Shaabi did not interfere with or say anything to the youth of Kirkuk. From the second day onwards, all young people in the city began fighting us. They began to threaten us and capture some young people. Since our families were afraid that we could be arrested if we go out to the streets, we packed up and came here. We are here for about a week now. We hope to turn back our homes soon."

"THOSE RESPONSIBLE MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE"

Young volunteer Burva Gerip, who takes responsibility to take care of the displaced people in Chamchamal, pointed out that these people either need a refugee camp or immediately get back their homes. Gerip, explaining that they welcome the people at the mosque and try to help them to settle, said: "these people have many needs. Here are women who breastfeed their babies, and many children need milk. Food is needed as well."

Gerip continued: "If it continues this way, a camp will need to be built up for these people. The people cannot simply continue under these circumstances. These people cannot just live in the mosque or in the homes where they took shelter. What we want is that these people be able to go back their homes. I do not know if the circumstances will allow that. We hope that those, who are responsible will be brought to justice by the people".

AID CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

In order to help the people, who had to migrate from Kirkuk, Tuz Khurmatu and other places to Chamchamal, because of the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi’s occupation, the Kurdistan Patriotic Youth Movement has initiated an aid campaign.

Ekrem Ali, from the youth movement, made an appeal for help to the people in Chamchamal and around. In order for help to be provided for the people migrating from Tuz Khurmatu, Dakuk and Taza, Ali made his appeal as follows: "We hope for the sensitivity of the people living in Chamchamal and its surrounding. We try to provide the most important things these people need for living. There is an urgent need for food, water and things like blankets. We have families of 10, who are sharing one blanket at night. Our people are already sensitive about this issue. But it is not enough. We need them to be even more sensitive. And due to the political pressure, even more families are coming every day."