120 MORE PALESTINIANS AT AL WALID BORDER POINT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001659 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/IPA FOR JOHN WATERS AMMAN FOR REFCOORDS KANESHIRO CAIRO FOR REFCOORD CHEYNE GENEVA FOR RMA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2016 TAGS: PREF KPAL PINS IZ JO SY SUBJECT: 120 MORE PALESTINIANS AT AL WALID BORDER POINT HOPING TO GET INTO SYRIA REF: REFS: A) BAGHDAD 1433 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: In the wake of the successful transfer of 290 Palestinians from Iraq to Syria on May 9 and 10, 120 more Palestinians have spontaneously migrated from Baghdad to the Iraq-Syria border. Syria has so far refused to admit them. Rumor has it that many more Palestinians plan to flee towards Syria at the end of the school year. RefCoord is working with UNHCR to seek a solution for the 120 new arrivals at the border and monitor further developments. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Working closely with Baghdad and Amman RefCoords, UNHCR, and MNF-I, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on May 9 successfully completed transfer of 244 Palestinians from the Iraq-Jordan border point of Trebil to UNHCR's El Hol camp in Syria. Once admitted to Syria, the 244 changed from IOM busses to UNRWA buses for onward travel to El Hol as previously agreed by UNRWA and IOM. IOM trucks carrying tents, water supplies, and personal belongings had earlier proceeded directly to El Hol. ¶3. (C) An additional family of six who had arrived in Trebil May 8 and a group of approximately 40 Palestinians who traveled directly to the Syrian border from Baghdad were delayed at the border because their names were not on the list of travelers that had been pre-cleared with the Syrians. The additional 46 were admitted May 10 and continued on to El Hol with the 244. ¶4. (C) On May 17, UNHCR advised RefCoord that 120 more Palestinians have arrived at the Iraq-Syria border since the transfer to El Hol. Syria has so far refused entry to the new arrivals. UNHCR is working with the Syrian authorities to seek admission for the 120 Palestinians at the border. There are rumors circulating that large numbers of Palestinians are planning to leave Iraq for Syria at the end of the school year. ¶5. (C) Comment: We have heard the same sorts of rumors of travel at the end of the school year from other minority groups, but the only recent sizeable movements for the border that we know about have been on the part of the Palestinians. The successful admission to Syria of the 244 and the 46 sets a precedent we hope will be followed for the 120 and any further groups who spontaneously migrate, but if the Syrians tire of admitting Palestinians from Iraq, we could face another humanitarian problem at the Syrian border. RefCoord is working with UNHCR to monitor the situation. End Comment KHALILZAD