Explosion Jeopardizes UN Repatriation Efforts for Iraqi Refugees

Lisa Schlein
Geneva
19 Aug 2003, 17:28 UTC

The explosion at the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad has forced the

organization's refugee agency to postpone repatriation of 300 Iraqi refugees
from Saudi Arabia. The refugees were to have been taken to Basra.

UNHCR spokesman, Peter Kessler told VOA his agency has decided that
the situation is too dangerous for the Iraqi refugees to return home now.

UN headquarters in He said even Basra, which has been relatively safe, has recently been the
Baghdad after
explosion
target of several attacks. He said there are signs of organized attacks in Iraq
in recent weeks which cannot be ignored.

"Just in the last days in Basra in southern Iraq, a bomb was exploded next to coalition forces. Rock-
throwing Iraqis have expanded their intimidation of U.N. convoys also in southern Iraq. And,
following today's attack on the U.N. headquarters building in Baghdad, we are terribly concerned
for the safety of all our staff in the country and do urgently believe the coalition forces must work
better to ensure security," Mr. Kessler said.

Mr. Kessler said he has no idea when the repatriation of Iraqis will resume.

There are about 4,700 Iraqi refugees in Saudi Arabia's Rafha camp. Many deserted from the army or
were taken as prisoners of war during the first Gulf War. Mr. Kessler said
most of these men are eager to return home.

In another development in Baghdad, UNHCR's Kris Janowski said more

than 8,000 Palestinian refugees were evicted from their homes by landlords
who want higher rents or a return of their property. He said the Palestinians
received special treatment under Saddam Hussein.
AP
Kris Janowski
"There have been cases of hostility, of people being unceremoniously
kicked out of their housing and there has been some resentment toward the Palestinians who are
seen as the darlings of the regime. The regime paid their rent and the regime subsidized them. So,
that might have aroused some envy and caused some resentment," Mr. Janowski said.

Mr. Janowski said those Palestinian refugees will now need help.