IRIN
IRAQ-SYRIA: First death among Palestinian refugees on border
15 November 2007


BAGHDAD, 15 November 2007 (IRIN) - Almost 2,000 Palestinians who fled 
violence in Iraq and are stranded at the Iraqi-Syrian border lack 
medical care, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). One person, 
identified as a priority in need of treatment, died on 13 November, the 
agency said.

The UNHCR said about 11 children at al-Waleed camp are suffering from 
leukaemia, spinal injury, skin diseases and intestinal problems. None is 
able to obtain care inside the country.

"There are a disproportionate number of seriously or critically ill 
among al-Waleed's population," said Anita Raman, associate reporting 
officer, UNHCR Iraq Operation. "Cancer, heart conditions and disability 
[due to health conditions, congenital defects and violence] are 
relatively common."

On 13 November, UNHCR recorded the first death among the refugees in the 
Al-Waleed camp. Akram Mohammed Rizq al-Assaf, a Palestinian, died of a 
heart attack. He had been identified as needing treatment outside Iraq. 
He is survived by a family of five living in the same camp.

"In June, I witnessed children in the camp suffering from heart 
conditions and severe congenital defects, and recovering from injuries 
sustained in mortaring of their neighbourhoods," Raman noted.

About 430 Palestinians are living in al-Tanf refugee camp on 
no-man's-land between Iraq and Syria, and another 1,560 have sought 
shelter in al-Waleed camp on the Iraqi side of the border, according to 
UNHCR.

"Water is brought in by tanker and sanitation services have been 
problematic, the camp is infested with rats and snakes, and access to 
limited healthcare services is several hours away," said Raman. "Trauma 
is common among camp residents, particularly children; parents have also 
stated that they cannot leave their children alone to work because they 
are frightened after fleeing Baghdad."

Ahmed Muffitlak, a spokesman for the Baghdad-based Palestinian Muslims 
Association (PMA), told IRIN that about 40 Palestinians arrive at the 
border camps weekly, carrying few personal belongings.

"People are sick and living in conditions of poverty; a situation that 
has to be taken care of urgently. We appeal for the understanding of 
other countries."

Muffitlak added that all children in the camps as well as the elderly 
are malnourished, lack medication and sleep in the desert. "There are 
very few who support these groups and despite UNHCR trying to offer 
assistance to the community, there is still a lot to be done to save 
them and bring minimum dignity to their lives."

UNHCR has made a global appeal for somewhere to resettle the sick 
children, but so far only Chile and Sudan have indicated that they might 
host some of them.

"Most essentially, Iraq's Palestinians are very much in need of a 
durable solution: a safe place free from violence and discrimination, 
where they can rebuild their lives," Raman said.

"General insecurity is continuing to push more families to the border, 
where UNHCR and its partners are constantly working to protect, assist 
and register this vulnerable group."

Muffitlak told IRIN many Palestinians have paid huge bribes to get fake 
Iraqi National Identification Cards, hoping they would be protected by 
Iraqi nationality.

"Each ID card costs about US$10,000. Most of the Palestinians remaining 
in Iraq don't have enough money to make the fake cards and are forced to 
move according to security problems from north to south and vice-versa," 
he said.

"It is not known how many Palestinians have been killed in Iraq since 
the US-led invasion began in 2003 but they are in their hundreds and 
most of them were killed by militants who were against Saddam Hussein's 
regime," Muffitlak added.


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