FINDING A HOME: IRANIAN KURDISH REFUGEE RELOCATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003139

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2025
TAGS: PREF PGOV PTER KDEM IZ IR
SUBJECT: FINDING A HOME: IRANIAN KURDISH REFUGEE RELOCATION
FROM AL TASH TO SULAIMANIYA HITS A SNAG

REF: A. BAGHDAD 1875

B. BAGHDAD 1386

C. BAGHDAD 1084

D. AMMAN 1232

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David Satterfield for reasons 1.

4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. UNHCR-Amman hosted a July 20-21 meeting
among stakeholders involved in the voluntary relocation of
some 3,000 Iranian Kurdish Refugees from the Al Tash refugee
camp outside Ramadi (Al Anbar governorate) to Sulaimaniya
governorate. Despite reported high-level KRG support for the
move, local Kurdish authorities raised many, often specious,
arguments to delay the immediate relocation of the Al Tash
population. The meeting concluded with a plan for
UNHCR-Amman's Head of Delegation to meet with local Kurdish
authorities in Sulaimaniya or Erbil in early August. The
movement of this camp population remains an Embassy priority
on both humanitarian and security grounds, and we plan a
senior-level demarche to the KRG to help ensure on-the-ground
support for speedy relocation. End Summary.

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REFUGEES IN HARM'S WAY
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2. (C) The Al Tash refugee camp operates under UNHCR
authority and protection and is located near the hub of the
insurgency in Al Anbar province (reftels). Due to security
concerns, UNHCR has been unable to provide adequate
protection or assistance to the approximately 3,000 Iranian
Kurdish residents since late 2003. Insecurity in the camp
led to the flight of refugees to the Iraq-Jordan border in
2004, with 209 currently sheltering in squalid conditions at
the Trebil crossing point. UNHCR and Jordanian authorities
fear more could move to the border unless conditions in Al
Anbar improve or refugees relocate to more secure areas in
the North. In recent months, residents have expressed
concern to MoDM and to RefCoord that insurgents may be using
Al Tash as a safe haven.


3. (C) UNHCR informed RefCoord/Baghdad on May 2, 2005 that it
has secured an agreement in principle with relevant
authorities in Baghdad and the KRG to relocate camp residents
to the North and convened a meeting July 20-21 in Amman to
review timing and logistics for the move and ancillary
assistance. Attendees included Sulaimaniya and Erbil
representatives Hoshyar Siwaily (Deputy Minister-Ministry of
Humanitarian Aid and Cooperation (MoHAC),Abdullah
Abdul-Karim Mohammed(KRG Sulaimaniya),and Dindar Zebary (KRG
Coordinator for the UN) with Minister of Displacement and
Migration (MODM) Suhaila Abd Jaafar al Kaneony, as well as
representatives of UNHCR, State/PRM, Embassy Baghdad, and NGO
Mercy Hands. The other main implementing partner, Swedish
NGO Qandil, was unable to attend.

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READY TO BEGIN MOVEMENTS IN AUGUST
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4. (C) UNHCR's implementing partner in Al Anbar, Mercy Hands
NGO, briefed on their survey work and the overwhelming
support for the move amongst the Al Tash refugees. As of 21
July, Mercy Hands had interviewed 301 families (55% of those
in the camp) and completed 261 Voluntary Relocation Forms
(VRFs). All respondents rejected repatriation to Iran,
citing destruction of homes and political opposition, and 40
families refused relocation from Al Tash to the north.
Ninety-nine percent of those wishing to move prefer to
relocate to Sulaimaniya governorate, with few listing Erbil
or Dohuk.


5. (C) UNHCR briefed on its plan to assist in the voluntary
relocation beginning in August and concluding by the end of
October. UNHCR implored both the MODM and KRG to facilitate
the move quickly in order to avert a humanitarian disaster in
the camp. UNHCR has already begun preliminary information
outreach to Al Tash residents to inform them about details of
the move.

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KRG THROWS UP OBSTACLES TO RELOCATION
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6. (C) KRG representatives, especially Sulaimaniya's
Abdullah Abdul-Karim, pushed back against UNHCR's proposal to
begin relocations in August, arguing that proper approvals
were still lacking. UNHCR's Head of Delegation Amin Awad
explained forcefully the trail of agreements it has secured
with the KRG beginning in 2003, including at Talabani's
level, and reminded KRG participants they were at the meeting
as technicians responsible for implementation and not
politicians. Erbil's Hoshyar Siwaily noted that agreement
was given 'in principle', but that details still need to be
worked out. These details included requirements concerning
biographic information so the KRG security apparatus could
give clearance, adding this could take up to two months; and
detailed family information to determine if schools can
absorb new students.


7. (C) The new Iraqi Minister of Displacement and Migration
declared the national government's support for the move and
offered coordination with the Ministry of Interior to ensure
safe transit to the north. The Minister also offered
coordination between her ministry and the governorate
authorities to finalize preparations for the move. UNHCR and
State/PRM representatives repeatedly intervened with KRG
representatives noting that Al-Anbar's insecurity
necessitates urgent relocation of refugees. These
interventions were met with rhetorical statements of support
for 'our Iranian-Kurdish brothers and sisters', but without
agreement on a speedy move.

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UNHCR PRESSING FOR RESULTS BUT NEEDS SUPPORT
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8. (C) UNHCR, MoDM, and KRG authorities agreed to meet in
northern Iraq between 31 July and 5 August to reach final
agreement on the mechanisms and timing for the relocation.
To help disarm the KRG of any excuses for delaying the move,
Mercy Hands will seek additional information from the
refugees to more thoroughly respond to KRG concerns. (Note:
Embassy now understands the meeting is planned for August 10
in Erbil and that UNHCR is seeking clearances from UNAMI and
UN/New York to send two officers from Amman to this meeting.
End note)

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COMMENT
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9. (C) UNHCR's leadership on this issue is welcome, and the
meetings were useful in revealing obstacles to progress on
this issue. The upcoming meeting between UNHCR's Head of
Delegation and KRG authorities could be pivotal to shoring up
Kurdish support for the relocation. This relocation is a
priority for our refugee work on both security and
humanitarian grounds. Furthermore, we hope a successful
relocation would prompt movement of refugees off the
Iraq-Jordan border, relieving pressure on MNF-I and Iraqi
border forces. We plan to raise this refugee issue with KRG
leadership to help ensure the upcoming UNHCR-KRG meeting is
fruitful and concludes with local buy-in. End comment.


10. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO KIRKUK,
minimize considered.
Khalilzad