Iraq's central government, the local administration and relief agencies are working in full swing to help Syrian refugees who entered the western Iraqi province to escape violence in their country, Anbar officials said.

"With support and supervision by the Iraqi government, the Ministry of Migration and the Displaced and in collaboration with humanitarian institutions and organisations and the Red Crescent, Syrian refugees and Iraqi citizens returning from Syria are being received," said Anbar provincial council chairman Saadoun Obaid al-Shaalan.

Al-Shaalan told Mawtani, "Anbar government agencies, with support from the central government, opened eight camps for Syrian refugees in schools and student dormitories, and the families were provided with all the supplies needed, such as food aid and medical services and treatment."

Up until Monday (July 30th), 3,291 Syrian refugees entered Iraq via the Qaim and al-Waleed border crossing points in western Anbar, al-Shaalan said. They were then taken to refugee camps in the Qaim district under supervision by the provincial council's relief committee as well as local humanitarian organisations.

Families continue to arrive

"Syrian refugees and returning Iraqi citizens were received with swift processing that ensured their entry into Iraq without delay," said Col. Qassim al-Mahalawi from the Qaim border administration.

"Syrian and Iraqi families are still pouring into Iraq, and are being widely welcomed by the government and the population," al-Mahalawi said. "Those who want to stay in a camp were taken to one, while the others were taken to where their relatives live, either in Anbar or in other Iraqi provinces."

He told Mawtani that all Syrian refugees are being documented in special lists to abide by the legal procedures needed by humanitarian organisations and the Ministry of Migration and the Displaced.

"The border crossing administration officials are also processing Syrian refugees and Iraqi citizens who do not have passports because of the security situation in Syrian cities and the escalation of armed clashes, in compliance with human rights standards and the circumstances faced by the innocent refugees," he said.

Many refugees and returning Iraqis are women, children and the elderly, some of them in need of medical care due to their exposure to illnesses during their travel and long waiting periods in Syrian cities, al-Mahalawi added.

Iraqi government aids Syrian refugees

This week, Iraq announced a number of other aid initiatives for Syrian refugees.

On Tuesday, the Iraqi government announced it will grant Syrian refugees the freedom to choose where they want to reside and the ability move freely within Iraq without requiring them to remain inside refugee camps.

Iraqi government spokesperson Ali al-Dabbagh said officials approved a sponsorship system that permits Syrian refugees to stay in Iraqi homes for unlimited periods of time with sponsorship by the homeowner.

The Iraqi government also granted Syrian refugees free medical care and health services during their entire stay in Iraq, he said.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Migration and the Displaced announced it will provide 400,000 dinars to each Syrian family and 150,000 dinars for each individual per month, according to ministry undersecretary Dr. Abdul Salam al-Khafaji.

Al-Khafaji said the ministry started disbursing money in refugee camps and other locations in Iraq.

"It was also decided to temporarily enrol children in Iraqi schools until the situation in their country improves," al-Khafaji added.

New refugee camp to open

Ali al-Mohammadi, head of the Anbar Human Rights Centre, told Mawtani the government will soon open a large refugee camp in collaboration with the United Nations at the "Seven Kilometre" area, west of Ramadi.

Al-Mohammadi said the camp is a residential complex for state employees that is currently an unoccupied and will temporarily house the refugees.

Some Syrian refugees who crossed into Iraq recently sustained injuries from armed clashes between the Syrian army and the opposition Free Syrian Army, he said, adding that the wounded were immediately taken to hospitals in Anbar for treatment.

Hisham Kanaan, a 37-year-old Syrian refugee from Albu Kamal said, "We fled the shelling and explosions heard sporadically in our area, especially in Albu Kamal where bloody clashes took place."

Kanaan said Iraqi officials were meeting all their needs and requirements, "such as food, medical treatment and a suitable place to sleep", Kanaan added. He also noted the sponsorship system for Syrian families who wish to leave the camps and stay at their Iraqi relatives' houses.

Aleppo resident Hiba Kanhar, 29, said her father was killed and her brother was wounded during government bombing raids in the city.

"We left Aleppo because of the clashes and the bombing and escaped to Iraq, which received us without any delays or problems," she said.

"We do not need anything after the welcome and the reception we received after we first arrived in Iraq," Kanhar said, adding, "The aid and services provided by the Iraqi authorities, the tribal leaders and the organisations have not stopped."

Mohammad al-Qaisi in Baghdad contributed to this report.