Iraqi Kurdish refugees in Turkey re

[PeaceNet Middle East Team]

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: Iraqi Kurdish refugees in Turkey re

/* Written 11:52 am  Sep 24, 1992 by mtaghavi at magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu in cdp:soc.culture.ir */
/* ---------- "Iraqi Kurdish refugees in Turkey re" ---------- */

	ANKARA, Turkey (UPI) -- A group of 857 of the total 18,000 Iraqi Kurds
given shelter in Turkey since 1988 left Thursday to return home, John
McCallin, a representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees said.
	This latest group ``is in addition to the 13,000 who have already
left Turkey for Northern Iraq since August this year,'' he said.
	Repatriation of about 18,000 Kurdish fighters, known as Peshmergas,
and their families ``is hoped to be complete by the end of this month,''
McCallin said.
	The Peshmergas and their families fled to Turkey four years ago to
escape chemical attacks by the Iraqi government forces and were settled
at refugee camps set up in several towns in the southeast.
	``UNHCR is giving cash for them to start a new life,'' McCallin said.
	He said although the amount was not much -- ``between $100 and $150''
-- the money could be used to buy tools and animals.
	About $2 million has been earmarked by UNHCR for the repatriation of
Peshmergas. The families will also be given aid once they reach northern
Iraq, McCallin said.
	UN officials there would provide timber, cement and other building
materials, to rebuild their houses, McCallin said.
	There are 3,743 refugees left in the camps in Turkey, most of whom
will leave in the next few days, Turkish officials said.
	The United States previously indicated it would accept about 1,000 of
them, some of whom have already left, officials said.
	``Canada and Australia will also take some of them, but not exceeding
at the most 1,000,'' they said.


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