Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (KRG.org) – The Foreign Minister of Iraq, Hoshyar Zebari, and the Kurdistan Region President’s Chief of Staff, Dr Fuad Hussein, today held a press conference to discuss recent security developments.

Foreign Minister Zebari stated that the most important development has been the decision by the United States to protect human lives – a critical decision for Kurdistan, Iraq, and the entire region. He said that the air strikes are intended to degrade the terrorists’ capabilities and achieve strategic gains, and have been very effective. He added that there is an American military team on the ground in Erbil in order to ensure tactical coordination with the Peshmerga forces. He noted that since the air strikes began, the environment has completely changed, and that Peshmerga are holding their ground and will be moving on the offensive.

Dr Fuad Hussein said that the terrorists are waging a war against humanity, and are not aligned with any religion. He mentioned that the Kurds used to say that they had no friends but the mountains, but this does not ring true anymore. Dr Hussein applauded the American decision to provide air strikes and humanitarian assistance, French support, and the efforts of the Pope to draw attention to the crisis. He discussed the plight of the Christian and Yezidi minorities as well, adding that the Kurdistan Region is proud of its culture of coexistence.

Both officials explained that America’s assistance is deeply appreciated. Foreign Minister Zebari lauded the unanimous United Nations Security Council call for urgent international action after France requested an emergency meeting. He said, “We are fighting on behalf of the whole world.” He urged the international community to not underestimate the terrorist group, whose tactics far exceed other terrorist organisations.

Foreign Minister Zebari noted that hundreds of thousands of Iraq’s displaced people, from every sect and ethnicity in Iraq, have taken refuge in Kurdistan. He also said that although the Peshmerga were previously denied weapons from Baghdad because of political issues, it is now clear that the Peshmerga and the Iraqi Security Forces are fighting together against a common enemy.

Kuwait City, Kuwait – (DFR.krg.org) – A delegation from Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, led by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari attended the Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria in which 68 countries and 24 international organisations participated.

Minister Zebari was accompanied by the representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa.

The aim of the donor conference was to gain further humanitarian assistance for the Syrian refugees and internally displaced people who have been affected since the start of the conflict in March 2011.

The conference was opened by the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and chaired by the UN Secretary-General  Ban Ki-moon. As the host of the conference, the Emir urged the international community to get together in order to help those who have been affected by the Syrian conflict and pledged $500 million to the cause.

Mr Ban thanked the Emir of Kuwait for his generosity and hospitality, and encouraged the international community to continue providing humanitarian assistance to the refugees who have paid the biggest price for the ongoing war in Syria.

During his opening speech, the UN Secretary-General thanked all countries and international organisations for their presence and active participation.

Valerie Amos, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Antonio Gutierrez, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and others addressed the conference and urged countries to make donations to meet UN’s $6.5 billion appeal for Syria.

Minister Zebari emphasised that  military intervention was not the  solution to the conflict in Syria, pinning hopes on the Geneva II Conference which is set to take place later this month.

This year Iraq pledged $13 million in addition to the $58 million it has already contributed in relief funds to the Syrian refugees and IDPs in Iraq.

The Kurdistan Region has seen a large influx of Syrian refugees in addition to the thousands of Iraqi families that have fled to the Region as violence continues in other parts of Iraq. There are currently over 250,000 Syrian refugees in Iraq, including those who are registered and non-registered. The vast majority are in Kurdistan.

The KRG has so far provided $70 million in relief funds including the provision of basic needs such as food, shelter, clean water and sanitation, as well as emergency health care. However, the KRG is overstretched and has been calling for urgent international assistance.

Minister Mustafa, highlighted the importance of the conference as well as the role Kuwait and the UN have played in helping the vulnerable people fleeing Syria. 'The KRG is committed to helping the refugees and appreciates any contributions made,' he said, adding that the need to end the violence is of paramount importance.

The United States of America was among the most generous donors, contributing $380 million.

The one-day conference concluded with donor countries pledging a total of $2.4 billion to help the Syrian refugees. This exceeds the $1.5 billion raised during last year's International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria.

In the margins of the conference, the Iraqi delegation, led by Minister Zebari and including KRG Minister Mustafa, met with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, and Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, to discuss bilateral relations, the Syrian crisis and the Geneva II Conference.