The energy administration in Hewler provided electricity 24 hours before the conflict with Hashd al-Shaabi. After Iraqi government took control the area around Makhmur on October 18, Hewler started to provide electricity to the camp only in between 21:00-05:00.

An envoy from the camp met with Ehmed Qadir, head of the energy administration in Hewler to solve the problem. But Qadir claimed that after Iraqi government seized the oil fields, there is not enough power production and said that the power outages will continue for Makhmur.

A member of the envoy Erdal Urek said KRG officials refused their demand for electricity. According to Urek, KRG officials stated that Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi attack the workers of supplier company and put this claim forward as one of the reasons of the power outage.

“We know that this is a political decision. There is an embargo of electricity to the residents of the camp. Earlier the officials told us that because Iraqi government captured the oil wells, they couldn’t transfer fuel to operate the power plants” Urek said.

Makhmur Refugee Camp had electricity for 24 hours even on October 16-18 when Hashd al-Shaabi attacked Makhmur, but now there is electricity for only 8 hours, between 21:00-05:00.

Urek also said that there is no problem with the power production and KRG is selling electricity to Mosul while cutting power to its own people.