Statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, Regarding Solutions for the Residents of Camp New Iraq (Ashraf)
GENEVA - I want to express my deep appreciation for the tireless efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Mr. Martin Kobler, to reach an agreement with the Government of Iraq regarding a process for the voluntary relocation of the residents of Camp New Iraq (former Camp Ashraf).
UNHCR is fully engaged in this initiative and looks forward to the voluntary and peaceful transfer of the asylum seekers to a temporary site so that UNHCR can proceed immediately with the determination of their status in accordance with its mandate.
I wish to commend the Government of Iraq for extending the deadline for the closure of the camp and for agreeing to provide the necessary facilities with safety and security, so that the process of verification and adjudication can be conducted in a timely and appropriate manner.
I urge all sides to cooperate in good faith to ensure a peaceful process and I reiterate my appeal to the international community to contribute to the achievement of durable solutions for those recognized as refugees through offering resettlement places.
For further information on this topic, please contact:
- In Geneva, Leigh Foster, on mobile +41 79 557 9124
Related news and stories
Twelve years on, Syrian refugees face deepening debt and hunger
UN Refugee Agency warns of extreme hardship for forcibly displaced families this winter
Iraqi doctor provides care and comfort to Yazidi survivors
Iraqi doctor provides care and comfort to Yazidi survivors
Yazidi women box their way to recovery
The 'Boxing Sisters' of Rwanga IDP Camp in Duhok, Iraq
-
Refugees in Cote d'Ivoire build back businesses despite COVID-19
22 Dec 2021 -
Hope for refugees in Angola as they receive COVID-19 vaccines
22 Dec 2021 UNHCR's advocacy efforts pay off as Angola includes refugees and asylum seekers in national COVID-19 vaccination campaign. -
Relief International
21 Dec 2021 -
Scale up support to Iran to safeguard fleeing Afghans, says UNHCR's Grandi
21 Dec 2021 -
Age Gender and Diversity Tip sheet - Helping to ensure AGD inclusive pledges and good practices for the GRF (ARABIC version, 2021)
21 Dec 2021 (ARABIC language version) This Tip Sheet builds on the progress made at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum (GRF) to help ensure pledges address gaps related to age, gender, and diversity (AGD), including disability, in refugee responses. -
Thousands of DR Congo refugees in Zambia opt to head home
21 Dec 2021 -
Clashes in Cameroon's Far North displace more than 100,000 people
17 Dec 2021 -
Big (Crisis) data for predictive models - A literature review
17 Dec 2021 This report summarizes the academic and grey literature on the usage of big data sources in the modelling and prediction of forcibly displaced persons. Based on the findings, it highlights possible avenues for UNHCR to include big data sources into their work. -
Guidelines on supervised independent living for unaccompanied children
17 Dec 2021 This guideline seeks to assist UNHCR and partner staff working on child protection and guide them in assessing and making decisions on the most appropriate alternative care, establishing and supporting supervised independent living arrangements, and monitoring and follow-up for unaccompanied children.