An Iraqi delegation participated in UNHCR's 64th annual Executive Committee meeting in Geneva alongside its other member states.
The meeting is part of a broader visit headed by Iraqi Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Hoshyar Zebari. The delegation includes Minister Falah Mustafa, Head of KRG Department of Foreign Relations, participating on behalf of the Kurdistan Region.

There are over 240,000 Syrian refugees currently seeking refuge in Kurdistan. The KRG has already donated over $60m in cash, and continues to call upon the international community for more assistance and aid.
 
During his speech, the UNHCR High Commissioner, Mr António Guterres, expressed his appreciation to neighbouring countries of Syria for hosting the refugees, including Kurdistan. He also said that even those who have fled are in continued need of assistance and called on international organisations to do more.
 
Speaking on behalf of Iraq, Minister Zebari outlined the impact the ongoing violence in Syria is having on Iraq, specifically on the Kurdistan Region as it is hosting 97% of the 240,000 refugees currently in the country. He underlined the burden on the local economy and other sectors, including health and security, and said that more refugees are expected to flee to the country.
 
Minister Zebari stressed that the Iraqi Federal Government has committed over $45 million to the refugee crisis and expressed readiness to supporting the humanitarian crisis as well as assistance to international non-government organisations.
 
The donor countries participating in the conference pledged more assistance for the Syrian refugees. The member states also reiterated their readiness to assist in the organisation of Geneva 2 international conference and said that this would serve as an important platform to finding a political settlement to the ongoing violence in Syria.