Iraq closes refugee camp in Kirkuk

By Hussein al-Amir

BAGHDAD

Iraqi authorities have shut a refugee camp in the northern Kirkuk province after their return to their areas, according to a local official on Saturday.

"Some 402 refugees in the Nizrawa camp have been moved to their areas liberated from Daesh terrorist group in Hawija district," Sattar Nawruz, an official in the Immigration Ministry, said in a statement.

He said most refugees in other camps in Kirkuk will return to their original areas in the coming days.

In October 2017, Iraqi forces announced it liberated Hawija from Daesh -- along with four neighboring towns.

In December 2017, officials in Baghdad declared that Daesh's military presence in Iraq had been all but dismantled following operations backed by the U.S.-led International Alliance.

However, from time to time, Iraqi officials announce operations against Daesh-affiliated "sleeper cells" in certain parts of the country.