UN hails Syria’s acceptance of Palestinians stranded on Iraqi-Jordanian ..

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25 April 2006 – The United Nations refugee today welcomed Syria’s acceptance of 181 Palestinians stranded in difficult conditions at the Iraqi-Jordanian border after they fled Baghdad out of fear for their security.

“We are grateful that the Syrian government is offering a solution to the group,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman William Spindler told a news briefing in Geneva. “Contacts are presently underway with all concerned to ensure a smooth transfer of the group to Syria.”

But UNHCR has not been told whether Syria will accept other Palestinians who have faced intimidation and attacks, with many incidents of harassment, kidnapping, beatings and killings reported over the past few months.

There are an estimated 34,000 Palestinians in Iraq of whom 23,000 have been registered by UNHCR in Baghdad. They came to Iraq in three main waves - in 1948 on the creation of Israel, in 1967 after the six-day war and in 1991 after the Gulf War.

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