ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Once upon a time Erbil’s neighborhoods of Khanaqa, Arab and Taajil thrived as the city’s most populated areas. Now, these integral parts of the Kurdistan Region’s heritage stand derelict and emptied of their residents. “I had lived in these houses. But it is very unfortunate to see what has happened to them. I would like to see these neighborhoods renovated and have doors,” said former resident Gaylani Abdulla, who grew up in Khanaqa. Authorities in 2012 required residents to vacate their homes in the neighborhoods in what they said was an effort to preserve Erbil’s heritage, but the promised restoration and protection has yet to materialize. Observers note that the areas now resemble a landfill, more than a treasured heritage site of Erbil. The three neighborhoods surround the city’s citadel, a landmark of the capital that has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since June 2014.
