Jordan Times
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Gov’t calls for
international conference to discuss Iraqi refugees
By Linda Hindi
AMMAN — The government on Monday called for an international conference to
discuss the current exodus of Iraqis fleeing to neighbouring countries.
“The Iraqi presence in Jordan is a burden on the natural resources — although I
don’t like to use that word — it is a fact, but they are welcome here,” the
Associated Press quoted Government Spokesperson Nasser Judeh as saying at the
weekly press briefing yesterday.
“We would like to have an international conference to discuss Iraqi refugees and
the provision of financial assistance to countries hosting them,” Judeh added.
“Iraqis are divided into categories such as guests, investors, refugees and some
are residing here,” the spokesperson said, responding to a query on the status
of Iraqis in the Kingdom.
Interior Ministry officials say Iraqis in Jordan are “guests” and not all are
refugees. In fact only around 20,000 have requested refugee status.
The government estimates that between 400,000 and 450,000 Iraqis are currently
in Jordan, but acknowledges the number could be one million.
According to the 2004 General Population Census, there are 5.3 million people
living in the Kingdom, rated one of the 10 poorest countries in water resources
in the world.
Meanwhile, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Amman
has proposed conducting a joint comprehensive assessment on the situation of
Iraqis in Jordan with the government.
The report will be used as a basis for planning, information for donors and
identifying persons who need protection and legal assistance as well as
determining the size and nature of the Iraqi population in Jordan.
“There is international recognition for the need to conduct comprehensive
studies on the situation of Iraqis here… for the UNHCR to do that, it is
essential for the government to be involved as they are the best source of
information,” UNHCR representative in Amman, Robert Breen, told The Jordan
Times.
He added that if a government study is conducted, the UNHCR is willing to
cooperate or offer any assistance needed.
The government has recognised the need for an assessment and the ministries of
interior and foreign affairs are looking into conducting a study, apart from the
UNHCR.
“We want to conduct our own study in order to assist the Jordanian authorities…
the UNHCR is an independent body,” Minister of Interior Eid Fayez told The
Jordan Times yesterday.
A similar study conducted in Syria, entitled “Assessment of the Situation of
Refugees in Syria,” was prepared by the UNHCR, the UNICEF, and the WFP with the
Syrian government’s involvement.
The report indicated that hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are no longer
interested in eventually returning to Iraq.
Consequently, the report said a huge secondary movement of Iraqis may take place
towards Western countries, and particularly Europe, posing a tremendous
challenge for the international community. Urgent attention is needed in order
to avoid a new exodus, it added.
Jordan and Syria are currently hosting the largest number of Iraqi expatriates
with an estimated 500,000 to one million in each country.
In related news, a UNHCR training workshop with government departments started
on Sunday to address the current protection gaps and needs of refugees in
Jordan.
The workshop, which concludes today, hosted representatives from the ministries
of interior and foreign affairs, as well as the public security, residency and
borders and general intelligence departments.
The UN refugee agency is seeking to familiarise participants with the status of
refugees in the Kingdom, how it operates, including procedures and protocol, as
well as listen to their concerns in order to respond better to the refugees’
needs.
“Definitely, we have learned a lot, especially in procedures used. It has given
us a different perspective,” a diplomatic attaché at the Foreign Ministry, Rania
Liswi, told The Jordan Times.
Moreover, discussions were held to form a common understanding on the challenges
Iraqis are facing and add a “human element” to the issue to enhance joint
assistance.
During a training session at the workshop, a senior UNHCR protection officer in
Jordan addressed this issue.
“Being outside your country is not fun for anybody… it must be clear that
leaving for political reasons is something they have to do for protection and
does not mean they do not wish to go home,” Anne-Marie Deutschlander told the
participants.
Hana Namrouqa contributed to the story