Joint press release - 27 Yezidi families, previously victims of Daesh, welcomed in France (20 November 2019)

On November 20, France welcomed 27 Yezidi women who were victims of Daesh, accompanied by their children. A flight from Erbil coordinated and funded by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and operated by the International Organization for Migration landed early this afternoon at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Following previous operations coordinated by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in partnership with agencies from the Ministry of the Interior that enabled us to take in 16 families on December 19, 2018, 28 families on May 22 of this year, and 31 families on August 8, the arrival of these 27 families marks the fulfilment of President Macron’s pledge to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad to welcome 100 Yezidi families – the victims of crimes committed by Daesh - to France.

These families, who were particularly impacted by the abuses of the terrorist organization, will be resettled in different French départements. With the help of several government agencies, France will guarantee them protection, security, education, and medical and social support.

This move reflects France’s renewed determination to establish facilities, in partnership with the Iraqi authorities, that welcome victims of ethnic and religious violence in the Middle East. At the same time, France is taking steps with these populations in Iraq to restore suitable living conditions on the ground and help rebuild areas liberated from Daesh control.

Press release issued by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior