Monday, May 28, 2007
Camp for displaced people to be set up in Arbil
Humanitarian
(Voices of Iraq) - A camp for displaced persons coming from Mosul will be set up in Arbil soon, mayor of Arbil's city of Khabat, Rizkar Mustafa, said on Sunday. "It will be an emergency camp where the displaced from Mosul can settle until we know their exact numbers and the security reasons related to their exodus," Mustafa told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The camp will be open to all displaced," Mustafa added, explaining that they included Iraqis from all communities and religious and ethnic groups. According to Mustafa, nearly 500 families, mostly from Baghdad and Diala, 60 km northeast of it, have fled to Arbil. Ninety percent of those from Mosul were Kurds, along with 25 Christian families and 20 Turkmen families.
"The province and the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) institutions have all made preparations for receiving the displaced. Around 2,000 tents will be set up," Mustafa indicated. "In cooperation with the regional government's institutions in Arbil, we have managed to provide the camp with water and electricity. Moreover, in coordination with the province, the Iraqi Red Crescent will supervise the camp," Mustafa said, explaining that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees will provide assistance to the displaced.
When asked about the number of displaced arriving in the province, Mustafa said that from two to five families arrive in Arbil everyday. "We sometimes receive 25 families a day," he added. Around 1,700 families have moved to Arbil, 700 of which are being housed in downtown Arbil, a relatively large number given the city's total population of 25,000.
"The camp will be open to all displaced," Mustafa added, explaining that they included Iraqis from all communities and religious and ethnic groups. According to Mustafa, nearly 500 families, mostly from Baghdad and Diala, 60 km northeast of it, have fled to Arbil. Ninety percent of those from Mosul were Kurds, along with 25 Christian families and 20 Turkmen families.
"The province and the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) institutions have all made preparations for receiving the displaced. Around 2,000 tents will be set up," Mustafa indicated. "In cooperation with the regional government's institutions in Arbil, we have managed to provide the camp with water and electricity. Moreover, in coordination with the province, the Iraqi Red Crescent will supervise the camp," Mustafa said, explaining that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees will provide assistance to the displaced.
When asked about the number of displaced arriving in the province, Mustafa said that from two to five families arrive in Arbil everyday. "We sometimes receive 25 families a day," he added. Around 1,700 families have moved to Arbil, 700 of which are being housed in downtown Arbil, a relatively large number given the city's total population of 25,000.
Labels: Arbil, displaced people, KRG, Mosul, Rizkar Mustafa, UNHCR
Sunday, March 11, 2007
U.N. - 727,000 Iraqis have fled homes in last month
Humanitarian
(Al Jazeera)
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has begun a one-week mission to Syria, Lebanon and Jordan to strengthen support for displaced Iraqis in the region and the countries hosting them. George Okoth-Obbo, director of international protection, travelled to Syria on Saturday ahead of an April conference in Geneva on displacement in Iraq. The United Nations estimates 2 million Iraqis now live in nearby countries and about 1.9 million have been displaced within Iraq itself. It estimates more than 727,000 Iraqis have been forced to flee their homes since last month.
A statement issued by the agency said the one-week mission is "part of UNHCR's overall efforts to strengthen its protection and assistance programmes for hundreds of thousands of uprooted Iraqis in the region". Okoth-Obbo will be in Syria until Tuesday, then travels to Lebanon through Wednesday, and then Jordan on Thursday and Friday. He will meet government officials and aid workers in each country. UNHCR estimates Syria hosts about 1 million Iraqis and Jordan hosts about 750,000. Lebanon has an estimated 40,000 Iraqis.
The statement said: "Missions will be focussed on the ongoing effort to ensure that Iraqis fleeing their homeland receive international protection, that the required systems are in place ... and that there are programmes for the provision of assistance and solutions, including resettlement of the most vulnerable."Radhouane Nouicer, UNHCR's director for the Middle East and North Africa will also be reviewing operations in the region.
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has begun a one-week mission to Syria, Lebanon and Jordan to strengthen support for displaced Iraqis in the region and the countries hosting them. George Okoth-Obbo, director of international protection, travelled to Syria on Saturday ahead of an April conference in Geneva on displacement in Iraq. The United Nations estimates 2 million Iraqis now live in nearby countries and about 1.9 million have been displaced within Iraq itself. It estimates more than 727,000 Iraqis have been forced to flee their homes since last month.
A statement issued by the agency said the one-week mission is "part of UNHCR's overall efforts to strengthen its protection and assistance programmes for hundreds of thousands of uprooted Iraqis in the region". Okoth-Obbo will be in Syria until Tuesday, then travels to Lebanon through Wednesday, and then Jordan on Thursday and Friday. He will meet government officials and aid workers in each country. UNHCR estimates Syria hosts about 1 million Iraqis and Jordan hosts about 750,000. Lebanon has an estimated 40,000 Iraqis.
The statement said: "Missions will be focussed on the ongoing effort to ensure that Iraqis fleeing their homeland receive international protection, that the required systems are in place ... and that there are programmes for the provision of assistance and solutions, including resettlement of the most vulnerable."Radhouane Nouicer, UNHCR's director for the Middle East and North Africa will also be reviewing operations in the region.
Labels: displaced people, George Okoth-Obbo, Jordan, Lebanon, refugees, Syria, UNHCR
Monday, February 26, 2007
630 displaced families return to Baghdad
Humanitarian
(Gulf News) Hundreds of displaced Iraqi families are moving back to their homes, a week after implementation of the new security plan "Imposing Law", a week ago. Brigadier Qasim Al Mussawi, Baghdad security plan spokesman, said more than 630 families have returned to their homes accompanied by Iraqi military troops after fleeing from the sectarian violence and ethnic cleansing. According to the Iraqi Ministry of Immigration and Immigrants' statistics, more than 35,000 Iraqi families were displaced after receiving threats from terrorists.
Labels: Brigadier Qasim Al Mussawi, displaced people
Friday, February 16, 2007
Iraq violence could lead to 1 million fleeing their homes
Humanitarian
(AP) Unrelenting violence and insecurity in Iraq could cause as many as 1 million Iraqis to flee their homes this year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Friday. "The numbers of people that are being displaced are increasing every day," said Jemini Pandaya, spokeswoman for the IOM. "The security situation is not improving. It's not changing." Pandaya said the organization's estimate was made "on the assumption that security conditions will continue much as they are."
The possibility of neighboring countries, such as Syria, closing their borders would mean even more of the displaced would only be able to get as far as other parts of Iraq. On Thursday, the U.N. refugee agency appealed to the European Union to do more to protect refugees fleeing Iraq, saying the war was the cause of the biggest displacement of people in the Middle East in recent history.
Washington announced it will allow about 7,000 Iraqis into the United States this year, up from 202 in 2006, and will pay more to help Iraq's neighbors cope with the surge of refugees. As the bloodshed in Iraq has increased, European governments have come under increasing pressure to open their doors to asylum-seekers. Many are worried that an escalation in violence in 2007 could generate a fresh wave of refugees. The U.N. appeal came as the EU announced it would contribute $13 million more for Iraqi refugees. About 60 percent will go to help those who have fled to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.
The possibility of neighboring countries, such as Syria, closing their borders would mean even more of the displaced would only be able to get as far as other parts of Iraq. On Thursday, the U.N. refugee agency appealed to the European Union to do more to protect refugees fleeing Iraq, saying the war was the cause of the biggest displacement of people in the Middle East in recent history.
Washington announced it will allow about 7,000 Iraqis into the United States this year, up from 202 in 2006, and will pay more to help Iraq's neighbors cope with the surge of refugees. As the bloodshed in Iraq has increased, European governments have come under increasing pressure to open their doors to asylum-seekers. Many are worried that an escalation in violence in 2007 could generate a fresh wave of refugees. The U.N. appeal came as the EU announced it would contribute $13 million more for Iraqi refugees. About 60 percent will go to help those who have fled to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.
Labels: displaced people, EU, humanitarian, IOM, refugees, U.N.
