Barzani orders tighter safety measures at Kurdistan tourist water sites

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani issued written instructions on June 18, 2026, ordering relevant public institutions to tighten security measures at tourist areas near rivers, dams and water sources across the region. The directive follows the drowning death of a tourist child named Ruqayya in Halabja, whose body was recovered with the help of local residents. Barzani thanked the people of Halabja for their efforts in recent days and offered condolences to the child's family. The statement drew attention to recurring drowning incidents in the Kurdistan Region and called on citizens and tourists to fully comply with the new safety instructions to protect themselves. Local authorities have faced mounting scrutiny over accidents at waterfront tourist sites, with the latest case prompting calls for increased oversight at such locations.