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Palestinians Stuck at Iraq-Syrian Border
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1578823:A6F02AD83191E1606C07CD1B6B182D759574F7DCC14957C0 Palestinians
leaving Iraq find themselves on the border, nowhere to go





Palestinian refugees leave buses that drove them through Iraq, upon
their arrival to Tanaf border crossing, 300 kilometers northeast of
Damascus, Syria, 9 May 2006The U.N. refugee agency says more than 40
Palestinians who fled Baghdad to escape increasing violence,
harassment and targeted killings remain stranded at the Iraqi-Syrian
border. The UNHCR says no country wants to accept the Palestinians. It
is calling for a solution to their plight. Lisa Schlein reports for
VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.

The U.N. refugee agency says the Palestinians are caught in a Catch-22
situation. It says they are not allowed to either leave Iraq or enter
Syria.

The UNHCR estimates about 15,000 Palestinians currently live in Iraq,
compared to some 34,000 before the war began in 2003. Many arrived
after the Arab-Israeli wars in 1948 and 1967 and enjoyed generous
financial support from former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who
championed the Palestinian cause.

UNHCR spokesman, Ron Redmond, says Iraqi border guards claim the
Palestinians lack proper documentation. He says some members of the
group do not have any travel documents, while others are holding
expired ones. He says the Palestinians are in a bind because Iraqi
authorities in Baghdad have been unwilling to renew their residence
permits.

"So, now we have 41 traumatized Palestinians who have spent the past
week 250 meters from the Iraqi checkpoint," he said. "They are being
helped by a local tribal leader who has given them accommodation, food
and water. Iraqi border officials are also giving some help as is the
International Committee of the Red Cross. UNHCR has been in contact
with the respective authorities, but so far we have been unable to get
any solution for these 41 Palestinians."

Redmond says the Palestinians are in a state of limbo. They are not
even allowed to enter the no-man's land between Iraq and Syria to join
an earlier group of 350 Palestinians who have been stuck there since
May.

Redmond says the Palestinians remaining in Iraq are living in a
climate of constant fear in Baghdad, with no easy way out of the
country.

"But now, many of them have been pushed out of their apartments
because they no longer get that subsidy. They cannot afford to stay
there," he continued. "They are living in just sort of makeshift
settlements or pockets in Baghdad that have been attacked, several
times-specifically targeted. So, they are not a particularly welcome
group by some quarters in Baghdad."



The UNHCR is urging the Iraqi and Syrian authorities to allow the
Palestinians to leave the country. It also is renewing its plea to
neighboring and resettlement countries and Israel to offer a solution.
Spokesman Redmond says the Palestinians have nowhere to turn.


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