US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3142

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003142 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2025 
TAGS: PREF, PGOV, PTER, KDEM, IZ, IR, Iran, Human Rights 
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 
------------------------------------- 
 
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 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
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