asylum and human news in Iraq
IFIR - 02.04.2003 16:22
IFIR Emergency Unit on Iraqi Refugees
March 31, 2003
The IFIR Emergency Unit on Iraqi Refugees headed by Farshad Hoseini has issued 15 press releases to date. Here is a summary of the first 13 press releases
The IFIR Emergency Unit on Iraqi Refugees headed by Farshad Hoseini has issued 15 press releases to date. Here is a summary of the first 13 press releases:
PR 2, 20 March 2003: According to the Turkish media, 30,000 Iraqi refugees from Northern Iraq are on the move towards the Iranian and Turkish borders. The Islamic regime of Iran has announced that its borders will remain closed. They have also announced that no refugees have attempted to cross over to Iran. The International Red Cross announced that 250 Iraqis entered Jordan yesterday. Other reports state that last night shots have been fired at cars attempting to leave. A UNHCR representative announced that three camps are being erected near the Iranian border.
PR 3, 24 March 2003: According to the UNHCR on Sunday, 450 thousand people living in Northern Iraq have left their homes in search of safety. Many of the people of Erbil, Kirkuk, Dohuk and Soleimaniyeh have fled to the mountains. In the city of Dohuk alone, 68 percent of the population of 120 thousand have fled the city. On Sunday, USA officials stated that they had bombed 1500 targets; Iraqi officials stated that 366 civilians were wounded and 77 were killed. Most of the victims were women and children. According to the Red Cross, the cutting off of water and electricity supplies will place the 1 million population at serious risk.
* PR 4, 24 March 2003: According to media reports, 24,000 Iranian refugees are currently in Iraq. They are mainly political opponents of the Islamic regime of Iran. These refugees are housed in camps in Northern Iraq and Ramadia camp in Iraq. Until now, the UNHCR has made no effort to transfer them to safe places. Other reports show that the Islamic regime is striving to have these opponents returned to Iran. Yesterday, an official of the regime stated that they are willing to accept some of these refugees. However, they said they will not take in 'Monafeqin' (hypocrites) and will only accept those who were 'deceived' and 'have repented'. These comments show the level of enmity of the regime with the Iranian refugees in Iraq and the persecution they will face if returned. This is a clear threat to the lives and security of those in Iraq. IFIR is concerned about the safety of these refugees.
PR 5, 24 March 2003: According to reports, up till now 14 Iraqi missiles have been fired at Kuwait. Many Iranians working in Kuwait are fearful for their lives and want to leave Kuwait and return to Iran. In opposition to the Islamic regime's refusal to address their needs, Iranians demonstrated at the Iranian embassy in Kuwait and broke some of its windows.
PR 6, 25 March 2003: As a result of severe attacks in the region of Fau, refugees attempting to flee USA-led and Iraqi government attacks and enter Iran were denied entry. This is a crime and contradictory to all international norms.
PR 7, 25 March 2003: Following the missile attacks and bombings of Iraqi cities, 7 missiles have fallen in Iran and according to the Islamic regime's reports, injured 2 civilians. The threat of war has made the residents of Iranian cities bordering Iraq fearful. According to reports, 30 percent of the people of Abadan and Khorramshahr have fled these cities. The Islamic regime has not only not taken any measures to support these internally displaced but is also attempting to prevent them from leaving the Iranian border cities. According to reports received by IFIR, a large number of people demonstrated in front of the offices of the Governate of these two cities against the regime's attempts to prevent people from leaving the cities as well as because of the lack of safety measures to protect people from attacks.
PR 8, 25 March 2003: The International Red Cross has announced that Basra will soon face a humanitarian catastrophe. Electricity and water have been cut off. 60 percent of the 2 million population of this city have no access to clean drinking water. Other reports state that the war has stopped food and medicines from reaching the population. The USA and Britain are preventing food stored in Jordan from reaching the population. While this is unfolding, Claire Short and Kofi Annan are only stating that food needs to reach these populations.
PR 9, 26 March 2003: While the bombing of Iraq continues, thousands of Iraqi refugees are at the borders of Iran and Turkey. Because they have been denied entry, they are in limbo. The numbers are increasing as US-led troops parachute into Northern Iraq. Thousands from Dohuk, Zakho, Erbil and so on are on the move. It has been reported that the USA has asked US reporters in the area not to broadcast this news so as not to give the Turkish government an excuse to enter Northern Iraq. The Turkish government has sent in troops to prevent the flow of refugees. Closing borders to refugees is like bombing them and using weapons of mass destruction against people. It kills innocent civilians and must be stopped immediately.
PR 10, 26 March 2003: 10 million will soon be in immediate need of food. According to media reports, as a result of the bombings and missile attacks, 39 percent of the people of Iraq have no access to clean water and 5 million have none to medical care and medicine. A ship carrying food has been stopped because of mines found in waters near Um Qasr. While weapons are readily transported and nothing can obstruct their transportation, when it comes to food and medicines, mines are found that prevent it from reaching the people. If the ship was carrying weapons, all obstructions would have immediately been pushed aside.
PR 11, 27 March 2003: In view of current developments in Iraq, the UN refugee agency has advised governments to suspend, for an initial period of three months, the processing of asylum claims from individual Iraqi citizens and to grant them temporary protection instead. This is an outrage. Rather than provide Iraqi refugees and asylum seekers with permanent protection, the UNHCR is facilitating their return when it is deemed 'safe'.
PR 12, 29 March 2003: Children are the first victims of this war. According to UNICEF, one and a half million Iraqi children have stopped attending school as a result of the war. Also, half a million children are at risk of psychological trauma. Instead of being in school, they are in shelters and basements or on the move facing fear, hunger and disease. The anti-war movement must also intervene in defence of human demands and to reduce the suffering of people, particularly children.
PR 13, 29 March 2003: The USA has established a new policy which mandatorily detains asylum seekers from Iraq, Iran and over 30 other countries deemed terrorist who arrive in the USA and seek asylum at the point of entry. The policy, entitled 'Operation Liberty Shield', is an outrage.
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