431 refugees returned to Hewler, says spokesperson for Federal Kurdistan Region Government

Cûtyar Adil, Spokesperson of the Federal Kurdistan Region Government, made a statement regarding the refugee crisis on the Belarus-Polish border and said that 431 refugees had returned so far.

Cûtyar Adil added that 422 out of 431 refugees are from the Federated Kurdistan Region and 9 are from Iraq.

Stating that 10 human smugglers were caught, Cûtyar Adil said that those who deceive citizens and get paid to get them abroad will be punished in the most severe way. Adil said that citizens pay between $6,000 and $8,000 to human smugglers in order to leave the country.

Refugees boarded planes at Minsk Airport and landed at Hewler Airport.

Ehmed Sehaf, the spokesman of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had said in a previous statement that they are working to ensure the return of refugees and added that the necessary support will be provided.