23 July 2013 - It was a hot morning in the midst of Ramadan, but IOM staff showed little fatigue as they helped transport Syrian refugee families from Fayshkhabur Crossing to Domiz Camp. The crossing, located in Dahuk Governorate in Kurdistan, northern Iraq, has been closed since the beginning of the conflict, allowing only Syrian returnees from Iraq to cross. Yet that has not prevented Syrian families from fleeing to the closed border, as war forces them from their homes with few other options.
IOM received word late Sunday night, 14 July, that the Fayshkhabur Crossing would be opened Monday for one day to allow families, who had been stranded on the Syrian side for over 50 days, to enter Iraq.
Rapid Response
Within an hour, IOM had coordinated with the checkpoint’s management and readied its response. For Syrians fleeing the violence, travelling to the border can be dangerous and expensive in and of itself, but the hardship does not end there. Refugees must cross the border by boat, and then continue 58 km to Domiz Camp, a $60 USD taxi ride that families struggle to afford. To address this need, IOM prepared buses and sent its team to facilitate free transportation assistance.
On Monday, 15 July, IOM began receiving and transporting the first families to Domiz Camp. The director of the Fayshkhabour Checkpoint, Mr. Shawket, welcomed IOM’s assistance and supported their operation by providing tables, chairs, and security. IOM registered Syrian refugees as they arrived and facilitated their movement both to the buses and onward to Domiz Camp.
It was a long day for IOM staff, as the crossing had only two boats to transport refugees across the river between the Syrian and Iraqi sides.
Yet the team worked tirelessly, staying until after 9:00pm, to ensure the safe and dignified movement of 189 Syrian refugees in 7 bus trips to Domiz Camp. There were many lessons learned, which IOM has already incorporated in order to prepare for possible future openings, such as the acquisition of a 4 x 4 truck to allow immediate transport of medical emergencies. IOM will continue its rapid response to developments on the ground and its steadfast support for refugees who have fled Syria, from transportation to emergency relief to livelihood assistance.