UN and Iraq agree to relocate thousands of Iranian refugees

2011-12-27 18:48:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) on Monday announced that it has signed an agreement with the Government of Iraq to relocate thousands of Iranian exiles living in a camp in the north-eastern part of the country.

The residents of Camp New Iraq, formerly known as Camp Ashraf, will be relocated to a temporary transit location where the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will start a process of refugee status determination, a necessary first step for their resettlement outside Iraq.

Camp New Iraq is situated in the eastern province of Diyala and houses members of a group known as the People's Mojahedeen of Iran.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU), which was signed on Sunday, also establishes that the UN will provide around the clock monitoring until the process is completed, and that UNHCR will immediately deploy a team at the new location to proceed with the verification of the claims for refugee status it has received.

In addition, with the agreement, a clear commitment from the Government of Iraq ensures the safety and security of the residents at the new location, while a liaison officer from Iraq's Ministry of Human Rights will be involved in the relocation.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Martin Kobler said the memorandum of understanding respects the sovereignty of Iraq and its international humanitarian and human rights obligations and protects the security and rights of the camp's residents.

Kobler also stressed that it was the result of a long process to find a peaceful and durable solution to the situation of the residents of the camp. "I want to make it very clear that this memorandum of understanding is about voluntary relocation and its implementation is based firmly on all sides acting peacefully and in good faith," Kobler said. "I also reiterate my call to Members States of the UN to accept the residents of the camp in their countries," he added.

The MoU was signed by Kobler and National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Iraq, Faleh Fayad.

Before signing the agreement the Iraqi Government had repeatedly stated its intention to close down the camp by December 31 and to transfer residents to another location until countries willing to accept them for resettlement were found.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-12-27

The refugees who want to work and build a business will be sent to the USA and the ones wanting a free ride throughout life will be sent to the EU.

The refugees who want to work and build a business will be sent to the USA and the ones wanting a free ride throughout life will be sent to the EU.

What about the ones who will be relocated elsewhere in the middle east, what will they want, apart from perhaps their heads examining?