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Jordan: 200 Iranian-Kurdish refugees at
border go on hunger strike
20.6.2006
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AMMAN, 20 June (IRIN) -
Some 200 Iranian-Kurdish refugees who have been
stranded on the Jordan-Iraq border since January
2005 went on a hunger strike on Tuesday demanding
that they be resettled in a third country, according
to the refugees' spokesperson.
"We are human beings and we deserve to live in peace
anywhere but not in Iraq as the UNHCR is proposing
us", said Khabati Mohammadi, a spokesperson for the
refugees.
According to Mohammadi, the refugees had already
made several unsuccessful pleas to the refugee
agency demanding resettlement in a third country.
Their one-day hunger strike on Tuesday was meant to
strike home the point and to coincide with the World
Refugee Day.
But UNHCR's protection officer dealing with Iraq
from Amman, Michelle Alfaro said that "resettlement
to a third country is only possible when there is a
clear need, no alternative solution in the country
of asylum and [is] dependent on an offer from a
resettlement country. Resettlement is not a right.
The Iranian Kurds have asked for a place to live in
safety and dignity, or return to their country which
UNHCR encourages and can facilitate. But it is clear
that their singular agenda is resettlement at the
expense of the women and children who live with the
group."
Alfaro added: "There is a durable solution in
northern Iraq for those Iranian Kurds who do not
wish to return home. Thousands of Iranian Kurds are
presently living there and integrating locally."
In an effort to resolve the issue, UNHCR offered the
group relocation to Kawa refugee camp, located in
Erbil governorate in northern Iraq. Some 10,000
Iranian Kurd refugees are registered and living
throughout Northern Iraq.
The Iranian-Kurdish refugees had arrived at the
Karama border crossing between Jordan and Iraq after
fleeing al-Tash refugee camp in Iraq's western Anbar
governorate, following clashes there between
insurgents and US forces in January 2005. However,
because they lacked official permission to enter
Jordan, the refugees remained on the Iraqi side of
the border, an area prone to harsh weather
conditions.
"This is a disastrous situation, especially for the
women and children", said Alfaro. "Going to Erbil is
the only lasting solution for this group".
Since last week to protest their fate, the refugees
have also been staging sit-ins at the Jordanian
border which have resulted in minor incidents,
according to a report which the Multinational Forces
monitoring the Iraqi side of the border sent to
UNHCR.
Jordanian border officers have denied accusations by
the refugees' that they [border officers] had beaten
them.
"Refugees have the right to demonstrate wherever
they want, but not on Jordanian territory. In any
case, no one has beaten them", said Colonel Wawdah
Wahbe at the Karama border.
irinnews org
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