UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed on Thursday the UN’s support for Iraq's efforts to return people displaced by years of conflict.
Guterres and a delegation including Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq Jeanine-Plasschaert visited the Nineveh Governorate, said the media office of National Security Adviser Qassim Al-Araji.
Araji and Guterres were also accompanied by a high-ranking government delegation that included Minister of Migration and Displacement Evan Faeq Jabro, head of the National Security Service, Hamid Al-Shatri, deputy commander of Joint Operations, Lt. Gen. Qais Al-Muhammadawi, and representative of the prime minister Zaidan Khalaf.
The delegation was received by Nineveh Governor Najm Al-Jubouri and the commander of Nineveh Operations, Lt. Gen.l Mahmoud Al-Falahi.
“Araji, accompanied by the delegation, visited the Al-Jada'a Center for Community Rehabilitation, to see the conditions of displaced and the level of psychological rehabilitation provided by the Iraqi government, in cooperation with international organizations,” said a statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
Araji stressed that Guterres came to see closely the conditions of the displaced.
“The Secretary-General heard briefly about the great efforts made by the Iraqi government to return families who were in difficult circumstances and integrate them into society,” he added.
He stated that the UN stands strong in helping Iraq address its humanitarian affairs.
Guterres also met with Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani.
Barzani and the UN chief discussed the course of talks between Erbil and Baghdad, and other files that threaten global peace and security, foremost of which are climate change and terrorism.
During a press conference in Baghdad on Wednesday, Guterres encouraged Erbil and Baghdad to continue moving towards a structured and institutionalized dialogue and concrete agreements, particularly on pressing issues, such as the 2023 federal budget and the oil and gas law.
