MIDDLE EAST: Weekly round-up Number 41 for 24-29 September 2005

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

Key Humanitarian Developments in Iraq

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) warned on Tuesday that the premature return of Iraqi refugees home could worsen tensions in the country and urged states not to withdraw protection for such refugees.

In an advisory note, UNHCR said despite the January 2005 elections, Iraqi authorities were still unable to protect citizens from violent attacks, including those specifically targeting civilians in southern and central Iraq. It also said access to basic services needed for a secure and stable life was not guaranteed.

"UNHCR encourages governments to postpone the introduction of measures which are intended to promote or induce voluntary returns for persons originating from southern or central Iraq," UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond said.

"Security conditions and absorption capacities for sustainable return should be in place before people are returned. Similarly, for those asylum seekers who are not recognized as refugees, some form of protection in keeping with international human rights principles should be given," he added.

Between 2003 and 2005, more than 253,000 people are estimated to have returned to Iraq, most of them spontaneously. More than 1.2 million people are estimated to be currently displaced inside Iraq – many of them sheltering in public buildings while another estimated 1.5 million live outside their home country, as refugees or migrants.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government announced on Monday a US $2.4 million grant for four projects – the Improvement of Chest Diseases and anti-Tuberculosis Center, Improvement of Allergy and Asthma Center, Improvement of Special Center for Dental Care and the Improvement of Medical Instruments for Central Health Laboratory.

Japan, in a statement, said medical institutions in Iraq were suffering from system failure, citing the Governorate of Al-Muthanna, where a lack of medical equipment and materials had made the provision of appropriate medical services difficult.

In another development, the International Crisis Group (ICG) warned on Monday that the Iraqi constitutional process has deepened rifts between the three principal communities – Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis – creating a need for a strong United States-led initiative to assuage Sunni concerns and avoid further ethnic and sectarian violence.

In a report, the ICG said the 15 October referendum could well be about a weak document that lacks consensus and urged the US government to embark on a last-ditch, determined effort to broker a true compromise between the three communities.

The Sunni Arab minority has rejected the document which was approved by the country’s dominant Shiite and Kurdish blocs. They are particularly opposed to clauses on federalism, women’s rights, references to Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated Ba’ath party and the description of Iraq as a Muslim, but not Arab state.

Last week, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) urged Iraqis to participate in the referendum and called on the government to ensure conditions that would enable the people to vote in a peaceful and secure environment.

In a statement issued from Baghdad, the special representative of the UN Secretary-General in Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, said the recent adoption of a draft text for the permanent constitution of Iraq by the Transitional National Assembly was an important step.

UNAMI is printing 5 million copies and will distribute them before the referendum date.

CONTENTS:

IRAQ: UN distributes aid to Talafar families
IRAQ: Centres for burn victims to be established
IRAQ: Food operation under threat, WFP
IRAQ: Families flee Samara ahead of planned offensive
EGYPT: Mubarak promises more democracy
LEBANON: Attacks on journalists condemned
SYRIA: Eco-friendly park to help sustain water level
SYRIA: Child labour still rampant
SYRIA: New law to free up municipal elections
YEMEN: Religious leaders enlisted in fight against HIV/AIDS

[ENDS]