Coronavirus measures in Kurdistan Region of Iraq hinder Syrians’ return

Derik – Syrians coming from Kurdistan Region of Iraq through Semalka crossing – North Press

Derik – North-Press Agency
Solnar Muhammad

Despite its opening, the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG) hindered the return of Syrians to their homes from the Semalka border crossing in the far northeast of Syria.

On Saturday, the department of the Semalka crossing opened the door for arrivals stranded in the KRG after three months of closure as part of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.   

One of the people stranded in the KRG who preferred not to be named told North-Press that those stranded in the Sulaimaniyah and Hawler (Erbil) governorates cannot reach the crossing to return to their homes, except those residing in Duhok governorate, due to the curfew in the KRG.

More than 160 people were able to return home from the Semalka crossing on Saturday, according to what the crossing department posted on its account on Facebook.   

Fatima Hasso, who was among the returnees from the KRG through the crossing, said that she had gone to the KRG on February 22nd with the intention of visiting her son.  

She said that she was examined and the result was negative, but that she would "stay in quarantine."

In an interview with North-Press, Director of Relations at the crossing Baz Ahmad said that the crossing will be opened until next Thursday.

"The decision includes people who went to the Kurdistan Region for the purpose of visit or treatment," he added.

Ahmad expected that about 1,500 to 2,000 people would enter through the crossing.

In turn, Rojin Ahmad, a spokesperson for the Health Committee in Qamishlo,said that the committee has prepared three teams to examine arrivals, and people will be quarantined in previously prepared isolation rooms if the results of the tests are positive. 

 
She added that in case of that returnees exhibit no symptoms, they will be subjected to home quarantine through the health committees and with the follow-up of the emergency teams and examined periodically for a period of 14 days.  

Ahmad pointed out that they have not registered any cases of the virus so far.