Friday, October 05, 2007
Iraqis prevented from entering Syria without visas
Travel
(DPA) -- For the first time under a new visa regime to stem the flow of Iraqi refugees into the country, 10 Iraqis were prevented Wednesday from entering Syria without visas, an Iraqi party leader living in Syria said Thursday. The Iraqi politician, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the 10 Iraqis tried to get visas from Syrian embassies abroad but they were told that there were no instructions as to the new visa system applied two weeks ago by the Syrian government only on Iraqis.
The Iraqi official further added that the Syrian-Iraqi borders seemed the past two days almost deserted after previously receiving between 1,500 and 2,000 Iraqis every day. Any Arab is allowed to enter Syria without a visa. However, after the massive flow of Iraqi refugees from the ongoing conflict in that country into Syria, the Syrian government decided to impose visas on any visiting Iraqi.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres, about 2 million Iraqis have taken refuge in neighbouring countries, particularly in Jordan and Syria, placing a heavy burden on their hosts. In Syria, which sees the arrival of an estimated 40,000 Iraqis a month, refugees are seen to be contributing to a rise in the cost of housing and goods and the overcrowding of schools.
About 1.5 million Iraqi refugees currently live in Syria. The Syrian government provides the Iraqi refugees with free education and health care, but can no longer cope with the influx of Iraqis.
The Iraqi official further added that the Syrian-Iraqi borders seemed the past two days almost deserted after previously receiving between 1,500 and 2,000 Iraqis every day. Any Arab is allowed to enter Syria without a visa. However, after the massive flow of Iraqi refugees from the ongoing conflict in that country into Syria, the Syrian government decided to impose visas on any visiting Iraqi.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres, about 2 million Iraqis have taken refuge in neighbouring countries, particularly in Jordan and Syria, placing a heavy burden on their hosts. In Syria, which sees the arrival of an estimated 40,000 Iraqis a month, refugees are seen to be contributing to a rise in the cost of housing and goods and the overcrowding of schools.
About 1.5 million Iraqi refugees currently live in Syria. The Syrian government provides the Iraqi refugees with free education and health care, but can no longer cope with the influx of Iraqis.
Labels: Iraq, refugees, Syria, visas
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Syria to drop visa demand during Ramadan
Region
(AFP) - Syria said on Thursday it would drop visa restrictions for Iraqis fleeing the violence at home as a goodwill gesture for the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. The decision is aimed at allowing Iraqi families to meet during the month, an official said, adding that visas would once again be required after Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan on about October 12,
About 30,000 Iraqis fleeing violence in their own country are arriving each month in neighbouring Syria, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, which estimates the total number of refugees at more than four million. Syria had announced it would impose visa restrictions on Iraqis from September 10 in a bid to control the flood of refugees. It was also planning to permit only those Iraqis who were from the economic, commercial and scientific sectors to enter Syria.
About 30,000 Iraqis fleeing violence in their own country are arriving each month in neighbouring Syria, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, which estimates the total number of refugees at more than four million. Syria had announced it would impose visa restrictions on Iraqis from September 10 in a bid to control the flood of refugees. It was also planning to permit only those Iraqis who were from the economic, commercial and scientific sectors to enter Syria.
Labels: Eid al-Fitr, Iraq, Ramadan, Syria, visas
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Syria imposes Iraqi visa requirement
Region
(Voices of Iraq) - The decision to impose a visa requirement on Iraqis seeking entering Syria put into force on Monday morning, an official source in al-Rabeeayia border checkpoint with Syria, noting that truck and cab drivers are giving a one-year visa for USD 200. "Iraqis have to resort to the Syrian embassy in Baghdad to obtain the visa," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) on condition of anonymity.
"The decision excludes Iraqi diplomats who seek to enter Syria," he also said. "The crossing point became empty from travelers," the source noted. For their part, a number of owners of transport and travel companies in Zakho said that the visa decision affected negatively on their work, because it decreased the number of Iraqis who travel to Syria and vice versa.
Syria Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem had informed his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zibari about his country's decision to require visas from Iraqi nationals as of September 10. Moallem asked the Iraqi government to cooperate in this regard.
"The decision excludes Iraqi diplomats who seek to enter Syria," he also said. "The crossing point became empty from travelers," the source noted. For their part, a number of owners of transport and travel companies in Zakho said that the visa decision affected negatively on their work, because it decreased the number of Iraqis who travel to Syria and vice versa.
Syria Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem had informed his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zibari about his country's decision to require visas from Iraqi nationals as of September 10. Moallem asked the Iraqi government to cooperate in this regard.
Labels: al-Rabeeayia, Iraq, Syria, visas
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Iraqi parliament urges Syria to cancel visa requirements
Regional
(Voices of Iraq) - The Iraqi parliament urged Syria on Tuesday to cancel its decision to impose a visa requirement on Iraqis seeking entering Syria, while Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sent a senior official to Damascus to discuss this question.
"The parliament called on Syria during its first session of the second legislative term the Syrian government to cancel the visa requirement to be imposed on Iraqi nationals as of September 10," Member of the parliament Abdul Khaleq Zangana, the head of the displaced committee, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The Iraqi government is obliged to find a solution for the current crises facing the Iraqi refugees abroad," he also said, calling on the government and the U.N. Higher Commissioner for Refugees to take a quick action to solve the problem. The Syrian government decided last Thursday to impose a visa requirement on Iraqis seeking entering Syria as of September 10.
"The Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed al-Moualim informed his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zibari by telephone that his country decided to impose a visa requirement as of September 10, 2007, on Iraqi nationals seeking entry to Syria for economic, commercial and scientific purposes, and asked for the Iraqi government cooperation in this respect," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said last Thursday.
The move is seen as an attempt by Syria, home to as many as 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, to reduce the flow of more than 30,000 Iraqi refugees every month. The MP said that the parliament sent a number of lawmakers to talk with the Syrian government in an attempt to cancel the decision, urging the Iraqi government to adopt measures to help Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan. Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Iraqi government Ali al-Dabagh told VOI "Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sent a senior envoy to Syria to avoid the negative repercussions of that decision on the Iraqi refugees."
Syria is one of the easiest countries for Iraqis to visit because they can stay up to six months then simply leave any border crossing and re-enter the country the same day to have a new six months' stay permit. It was unclear how the rules would affect Iraqis who try to enter Syria simply to take refuge.
Syria and Jordan host the largest number of the more than 2 million displaced Iraqis and both governments complain of the increasing burdens on their health and education infrastructures. Jordan has made it more difficult to Iraqis to enter in the past to help reduce the flow. During a visit to Syria last month, al-Maliki pledged to help Syria on the increasing flow of refugees from Iraq, most of them are living in the capital, Damascus, and the suburbs. Diplomatic relations were restored between Iraq and Syria in 2006.
"The parliament called on Syria during its first session of the second legislative term the Syrian government to cancel the visa requirement to be imposed on Iraqi nationals as of September 10," Member of the parliament Abdul Khaleq Zangana, the head of the displaced committee, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The Iraqi government is obliged to find a solution for the current crises facing the Iraqi refugees abroad," he also said, calling on the government and the U.N. Higher Commissioner for Refugees to take a quick action to solve the problem. The Syrian government decided last Thursday to impose a visa requirement on Iraqis seeking entering Syria as of September 10.
"The Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed al-Moualim informed his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zibari by telephone that his country decided to impose a visa requirement as of September 10, 2007, on Iraqi nationals seeking entry to Syria for economic, commercial and scientific purposes, and asked for the Iraqi government cooperation in this respect," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said last Thursday.
The move is seen as an attempt by Syria, home to as many as 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, to reduce the flow of more than 30,000 Iraqi refugees every month. The MP said that the parliament sent a number of lawmakers to talk with the Syrian government in an attempt to cancel the decision, urging the Iraqi government to adopt measures to help Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan. Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Iraqi government Ali al-Dabagh told VOI "Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sent a senior envoy to Syria to avoid the negative repercussions of that decision on the Iraqi refugees."
Syria is one of the easiest countries for Iraqis to visit because they can stay up to six months then simply leave any border crossing and re-enter the country the same day to have a new six months' stay permit. It was unclear how the rules would affect Iraqis who try to enter Syria simply to take refuge.
Syria and Jordan host the largest number of the more than 2 million displaced Iraqis and both governments complain of the increasing burdens on their health and education infrastructures. Jordan has made it more difficult to Iraqis to enter in the past to help reduce the flow. During a visit to Syria last month, al-Maliki pledged to help Syria on the increasing flow of refugees from Iraq, most of them are living in the capital, Damascus, and the suburbs. Diplomatic relations were restored between Iraq and Syria in 2006.
Labels: Iraqi parliament, Iraqi refugees, Syria, visas, Waleed al-Moualim
Monday, September 03, 2007
Syria to require visas for Iraqis
Region
(AP) -- Syria, home to as many as 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, has decided to require visas for Iraqis entering the country for economic, trade and educational purposes, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said Thursday. The new rules take effect Sept. 10, the ministry said in a statement on its Web site. Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari was informed about the Syrian decision by his counterpart Walid Moallem in a telephone conversation Thursday, the ministry said.
Syria's move is seen as an attempt by the Arab state to reduce the flow of more than 30,000 Iraqi refugees every month. Syria is one of the easiest countries for Iraqis to visit because they can stay up to six months then simply leave any border crossing and enter the same day to start a new six months. It was unclear how the rules would affect Iraqis who try to enter Syria simply to take refuge.
Syria and Jordan host the largest number of the more than 2 million displaced Iraqis and both governments complain of the increasing burdens on their health and education infrastructures. Jordan has made it more difficult to Iraqis to enter in the past to try reduce the flow.
During a visit to Syria earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pledged to help Syria on the increasing flow of refugees from Iraq - about 1.5 million are living in Syria, mostly in the capital, Damascus, and the suburbs. The head of the U.N. refugee agency on Thursday praised Syria and Jordan for taking in fleeing Iraqis and urged the international community to show its solidarity by providing more direct, bilateral support.
Syria's move is seen as an attempt by the Arab state to reduce the flow of more than 30,000 Iraqi refugees every month. Syria is one of the easiest countries for Iraqis to visit because they can stay up to six months then simply leave any border crossing and enter the same day to start a new six months. It was unclear how the rules would affect Iraqis who try to enter Syria simply to take refuge.
Syria and Jordan host the largest number of the more than 2 million displaced Iraqis and both governments complain of the increasing burdens on their health and education infrastructures. Jordan has made it more difficult to Iraqis to enter in the past to try reduce the flow.
During a visit to Syria earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pledged to help Syria on the increasing flow of refugees from Iraq - about 1.5 million are living in Syria, mostly in the capital, Damascus, and the suburbs. The head of the U.N. refugee agency on Thursday praised Syria and Jordan for taking in fleeing Iraqis and urged the international community to show its solidarity by providing more direct, bilateral support.
Labels: Hoshiyar Zebari, Iraqi refugees, Syria, visas, Walid Moallem
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Syria toughens up visa rules
Travel
(AINA) - Syria has changed the rule for temporary resident visas for Iraqi refugees. The new rule requires that temporary residents renew their visas every three months instead of every six months. To do so, refugees must return to the Iraqi border every three months to renew their visas.
Labels: Iraqi refugees, Syria, visas
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Egypt tightens up visa rules for Iraqis
Travel
(Reuters) - Egypt has tightened the procedures for Iraqis entering the country, apparently to stem a flow of people seeking refuge from the violence in Iraq. Instead of obtaining visas at points of entry such as Cairo airport, Iraqis will have to apply in advance through Egyptian consulates abroad, an official source said on Thursday.
Senior Foreign Ministry official Mahmoud Aouf told parliament on Wednesday his ministry was making the change for security reasons, the state news agency MENA said. "This decision is due to the nature of the security circumstances accompanying the entry of Iraqis into Egypt at this stage," he said. "The sensitivities of Egyptian national security requirements must be respected."
After Jordan and Syria, Egypt is one of the places most popular among Iraqis seeking safety. The Iraqi embassy estimates about 120,000 Iraqis have moved to Egypt since the 2003 war to oust Saddam Hussein, an official said. But only about 5,000 or 6,000 have registered as refugees with the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, a U.N. official said. Iraqis with enough money can stay in Egypt indefinitely and may not feel the need to register, she added. Since the United States and its allies invaded Iraq in 2003, about 700,000 Iraqis have fled to Jordan and more than 400,000 to Syria. Others have gone to Lebanon, Turkey and Iran.
Senior Foreign Ministry official Mahmoud Aouf told parliament on Wednesday his ministry was making the change for security reasons, the state news agency MENA said. "This decision is due to the nature of the security circumstances accompanying the entry of Iraqis into Egypt at this stage," he said. "The sensitivities of Egyptian national security requirements must be respected."
After Jordan and Syria, Egypt is one of the places most popular among Iraqis seeking safety. The Iraqi embassy estimates about 120,000 Iraqis have moved to Egypt since the 2003 war to oust Saddam Hussein, an official said. But only about 5,000 or 6,000 have registered as refugees with the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, a U.N. official said. Iraqis with enough money can stay in Egypt indefinitely and may not feel the need to register, she added. Since the United States and its allies invaded Iraq in 2003, about 700,000 Iraqis have fled to Jordan and more than 400,000 to Syria. Others have gone to Lebanon, Turkey and Iran.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
BIAP-issued visas non-valid for foreign reporters
Travel
(Iraq Slogger) The Iraqi government is deporting non-Iraqi journalists who show up at the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) without a valid visa for entry. Several have been turned away and put on the next flight out in recent days. Previously, foreign journalists with a letter from their news organization or from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry were able to snag a visa on arrival at the Baghdad airport.
Some journalists without a visa or a letter were able to buy a visa at BIAP at a backsheesh premium. Those days are over, if this edict from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry is enforced. There are creative ways for journalists to get into the country without a visa. Foreigners arriving in Erbil -- there are direct flights from Europe and neighboring countries -- do not require a visa. From Erbil, flying to Baghdad is a cinch, and no visa is needed or checked for those on domestic Iraq flights. But those flying into Erbil must fly out of Erbil unless you want a hassle at the Baghdad airport. Another alternative is to fly into Iraq with US military forces as part of an embeded mission.
Some journalists without a visa or a letter were able to buy a visa at BIAP at a backsheesh premium. Those days are over, if this edict from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry is enforced. There are creative ways for journalists to get into the country without a visa. Foreigners arriving in Erbil -- there are direct flights from Europe and neighboring countries -- do not require a visa. From Erbil, flying to Baghdad is a cinch, and no visa is needed or checked for those on domestic Iraq flights. But those flying into Erbil must fly out of Erbil unless you want a hassle at the Baghdad airport. Another alternative is to fly into Iraq with US military forces as part of an embeded mission.
More information on Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs site: http://www.mofa.gov.iq/english/news/display.aspx?NewsID=2997
Labels: BIAP, Iraq, press, visas
Friday, March 16, 2007
Jordanians to introduce visas for Iraqi refugees
Humanitarian
(IRIN) - Iraqis fleeing sectarian violence in their country will soon have to get visas from the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad before arriving at the kingdom's borders, a senior government official told IRIN. No date has been set for the implementation of the move and it is not intended to curb the number of Iraqis entering the kingdom, said the official on condition of anonymity.
"We want to make it easier for them so they are not refused entry at the borders," he said.The new procedures are expected to affect at least 500 asylum seekers daily, according to officials from the Jordanian Ministry of the Interior. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that there are up to 750,000 Iraqi refugees in Jordan and up to one million in Syria. There has been much speculation recently on the capability and will of these countries - which also host hundreds of thousands of Palestinian asylum seekers - to allow more fleeing Iraqis in.
Economists and members of Jordan's parliament have said they resent the Iraqi refugees. They allege that the prices of basic commodities as well as housing have tripled over the past three years because of the Iraqis.
Economists and members of Jordan's parliament have said they resent the Iraqi refugees. They allege that the prices of basic commodities as well as housing have tripled over the past three years because of the Iraqis.
Jordanian officials have repeatedly asked the international community to lend a hand to the cash-strapped nation in order to be able to meet the demands of the growing number of Iraqis it hosts.Government spokesmen Nasser Judeh hinted on Monday that Jordan would impose new rules to control the flow of Iraqis, but did not specifically mention the visa regulations.
Labels: Jordan, refugees, visas
