Hana Human Rights Organization warns of the critical situation and widespread psychological trauma inflicted on children living in refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq following continuous missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hana considers these actions a direct violation of international obligations regarding the protection of children and civilians.

In recent years, and particularly since the start of the “12-Day War,” missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against residential areas and camps housing families of Kurdish political activists and parties in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq especially in Sulaymaniyah Province have increased significantly. These attacks have placed the lives and safety of civilians, particularly children, under unprecedented threat.
Beyond the human casualties and extensive material damage, these strikes have left deep, long-term scars on children’s mental health. Many suffer from chronic anxiety, constant fear, night terrors, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Living in a persistent state of insecurity and dread has stripped these children of their psychological safety and sense of stability.

According to gathered information and field observations, a significant number of children in these camps have been forced into internal displacement, fleeing their homes following the attacks. This instability, combined with damaged educational infrastructure, limited school access, and a total lack of specialized psychological support services, has severely disrupted their education. Many children are now being deprived of their fundamental right to learn, threatening their educational, social, and psychological futures.