Residents of Makhmour Refugee Camp, also known as Martyr Rustam Jodi Camp, have accused the Iraqi government of imposing a strict siege on the camp for nearly three months, severely restricting access to essential supplies and medical care. However, Iraqi authorities have denied the allegations, while a political official hinted at plans to repatriate the camp’s residents once the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) disarms.

Established in 1998 near Mount Qara Jokh in eastern Makhmour district, the camp houses around 12,000 Kurdish refugees who fled Turkey. Since April 10, 2025, residents say they have faced severe restrictions on movement and supplies.

"We can’t even take the sick out for treatment, and we’re running out of medicine," one resident said. Others reported shortages of school supplies, construction materials, and basic household goods. Camp administrators warned that if the situation continues, it could lead to a "humanitarian disaster."

The camp has long been a flashpoint in regional tensions, with Turkey frequently bombing the area, accusing it of harboring PKK militants.

The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement has rejected claims of a siege. Ministry spokesperson Ali Jahangir insisted that residents are "officially registered and free to move between provinces."

However, tensions escalated in May when a five-member delegation from the camp was arrested in Baghdad while attending a meeting. Released after over a month in detention, their arrest has fueled distrust among camp residents. Jahangir dismissed concerns, saying the camp’s inhabitants had "created an imaginary sense of danger" for themselves.

Rashad Kalali, a local official from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), confirmed that the Iraqi government is preparing to return the refugees to their original areas in Turkey as part of a potential peace deal between Ankara and the PKK.

"As the PKK moves toward disarmament, the government plans to facilitate the refugees’ return," Kalali said.