Hawija: Tribes in the Hawija district have demanded compensation from the Netherlands for the losses and material damages resulting from the airstrike that targeted the district on June 2, 2015, which killed more than 70 civilians and caused significant material losses.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, during an official meeting with the Dutch Minister of Defense, who visited the district today, residents of Hawija demanded compensation for the families of the martyrs and those affected by the 2015 airstrike, which resulted in civilian casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure and public and private property.
Tribal leader Raed Sattam Zoba'a al-Jubouri stated, "A tribal delegation, representing the residents of Hawija, met with the Dutch Minister of Defense, in the presence of the Dutch Ambassador and the Governor of Kirkuk. The delegation conveyed the extent of the suffering endured by the residents of the district as a result of the attack."
Al-Jubouri explained, "The Dutch Minister of Defense offered a public and official apology on behalf of the Netherlands."
He added, "The delegation presented the Dutch side with a detailed report outlining the demands of the people of Hawija. These demands included substantial financial compensation for the families of the martyrs, the construction of housing units for those affected, the establishment of a specialized hospital for cancer treatment, and a hospital dedicated to maternity care and the treatment of the wounded and injured."
The demands also included the construction of new schools to address the shortage in the education sector, the implementation of comprehensive water projects to serve the region, and compensation for owners of damaged shops, markets, and exhibitions.
The Netherlands apologized to the residents of Hawija district for the airstrike carried out by its aircraft on the district center on June 2, 2015, during ISIS's control of the area. The strike resulted in dozens of civilian casualties and widespread destruction of homes, factories, and government buildings.
Dutch Defense Minister Robin Brickellmann, during a meeting with government officials, victims, and professors at the Polytechnic College, stated: "We delayed addressing this mistake for over ten years. We apologize for this error, which was based on inaccurate intelligence and led to the airstrike. Our visit is to offer our apologies and to conduct an on-site assessment."
He added: "Our law does not allow for different compensation amounts for each victim, but we assure you that we have a team in Baghdad and Erbil working with the mayor of Hawija to implement projects that benefit everyone."
The Dutch Defense Minister had previously arrived in Kirkuk, met with the governor at the government building, and visited the site of the airstrike, accompanied by the mayor of Hawija.