Environmental awareness
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Living & Working In Kurdistan
BACKGROUND
Erbil, also known by its Kurdish name, Hawler, is the capital of Kurdistan and has a population of 1.5 million. Erbil is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with life in the city dating as far back as 6000 B.C. Erbil is far from what you’d expect from an Iraqi city, with shopping centers, high rise buildings, and fancy hotels everywhere. Erbil’s spectacular ancient citadel is a highlight for everyone visiting the city. A UNESCO World Heritage site offers a wealth of sightseeing opportunities.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Foreigners should try to avoid travelling outside of Kurdistan, as other regions of Iraq and borders with neighboring countries can be very dangerous. It’s advisable for all visitors to carry an ID with them everywhere they go, to avoid being detained by the local authorities. Taking photos of checkpoints and military personnel is strictly forbidden and could lead to confiscation of a camera/ smart phone and potential detention. The emergency number for the police is 144-124-104. Many overseas businesses are using Erbil as their Iraqi base due to strong presence of government security.
HEALTHCARE IN ERBIL
Health services are readily available in Erbil. There are both privately run, and government funded hospitals in Erbil that cover a wide range of specialties. The number for the ambulance service is in Kurdistan is 122.
LOCAL ECONOMY
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GEOGRAPHY
Visiting Kurdistan for the first time you will notice that its most prominent geophysical feature is mountains. Mountains in Iraqi Kurdistan include the Zagros, Sinjar and Korek mountains. The mountains are very important to Kurds. They have not only shaped the history, people, tradition and culture; they have also been used more practically as hide outs for Kurdish Peshmerga’s and guerrillas fighting oppressing regimes. There are many rivers running through the region, which is distinguished by its fertile lands, plentiful water, and picturesque nature. Its unique, rich culture, beautiful nature, historical sites and wonderful nightlife make it a must-go city and also a great place to stay in.
PEOPLE
The Kurdistan Region has a population of more than 5 million. In these past years the population has gone up to almost 7 million due to violence in Iraq and Syria. The KRG currently shelters millions of refugees. Worldwide there are roughly 40 million Kurds. In Turkey they make up for about 25% of the population. In Iraq 15%, in Iran 10% and in Syria about 9%. Besides that there are also a large number of Kurds living in the diaspora.