Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq’s statement on floods in Erbil: We must not allow destruction of ancient city’s topography by random expansion

Tragically heavy rainfall last night caused flooding in several areas of Erbil, with heavy casualties and damage, particularly to the homes and property of people in poorer neighbourhoods.

We in the Kurdistan Parliament convey our condolences to the families of the victims and express our solidarity with them in the face of this tragedy which concerns us deeply.

We have assigned the relevant Parliament committees to investigate as soon as possible this tragic recurring situation, which puts the lives and properties of Erbil’s citizens at risk every time that it there is heavy rain.

The Kurdistan Regional Government and all relevant authorities must carry out a thorough investigation to find solutions that address the root causes of this ongoing problem. In particular, we must not allow the destruction and distortion of the topography of this ancient city of many thousands of years, nor allow changes to the direction and flow of its water, by randomly expanding it. There must be limits and a halt to these activities.

The development of the city’s infrastructure and services should be properly directed, and experts without vested interests should plan the development of the city’s construction, so that every class and community can live with some certainty, and so that citizens in the poorer neighbourhoods do not have to think twice before they pray to God for rain.

Dr. Rewaz Faiq

Speaker of Kurdistan Parliament

17 December 2021