SOUTH KURDISTAN (IRAQ) Meer Ako Ali: Kurdistan’s youth are migrating from KRG-Country

At the cost of thousands of dollars, three thousand Kurds a month choose the dangerous route of migrating illegally to Europe by land or sea. The primary reason is economic; there are simply not enough jobs, and salaries are not paid on time in the Kurdistan Region. The continuing battle against ISIS has strained the KRG’s resources, and the price of basic services and housing has gone up to the point where they are no longer affordable. As the young Kurds leave, they are often replaced by Iraqi and Syrian Arabs, which raises demographic concerns. But the youth themselves are still proudly Kurdish; this means that hope is not lost. The KRG must invest in its young people, to provide them with opportunities for self-sufficiency, and to ensure that its democracy is responsive to their needs. http://kurdistantribune.com/2015/kurdistans-youth-are-migrating/