UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...

In addition, there is also a continuing criminal threat of car-jacking and robbery. 794
According to the US Department of State,
“(t)ravel in or through Ramadi and Fallujah; in and between al-Hillah, al-Basrah, Kirkuk,
and Baghdad; between the International Zone and Baghdad International Airport; and
from Baghdad to Mosul is particularly dangerous.”
The fact that Iraqis continue to travel should not be taken as an indicator that traveling is
safe. Rather, Iraqis travel out of necessity and avoid traveling as much as possible.
The following provides an overview of Iraq’s main roads and possible security issues.
- Baghdad Western South route
This road leads from Baghdad to the Jordanian, Syrian and Saudi borders passing
through the Governorates of Al-Anbar, Babylon, Najaf, Kerbala, Qadissiyah and
Al-Muthanna. This road divides into two 50 kms south of Baghdad with one road
(Highway No. 10) leading further to the Jordanian and Syrian borders and the other
(Highway No. 31) leading to the Saudi Arabian border crossing of ‘Ar’ar.
The first 50kms are considered very dangerous, and the road remains very risky
towards the Jordanian/Syrian borders passing by Fallujah and Ramadi with armed
conflict and crime being a daily occurrence. The road leading further South to the
Saudi border is considerably safer, except for the route towards the town of Hilla
(Triangle of Death) and south of it. In late March 2007, the town of Haswa, 50 km
south of Baghdad, saw an increase in violence and the road was closed for two days.
Further South, the road as such is mostly safe but security incidents are common in
the cities it passes, in particular Najaf and Kerbala. Traveling after sunset is not
safe. Increased security incidents also occur during Shi’ite religious festivities when
Sunni insurgents target Shi’ite pilgrims on their way to the holy cities of Najaf and
Kerbala. 795 On the route between Nassriyah and Basrah frequent incidents of carjacking
have taken place. It was also reported that the fact that cars try to avoid
approaching MNF convoys often lead to car accidents.
- Baghdad Eastern South route
This road (Highway No. 6) passes from Baghdad through the Governorates of Al-
Wassit, Missan and Basrah towards the Kuwaiti border. This road is generally
considered safer than the Western route although sporadic roadside bombs are being
reported and car-jackings are a common occurrence.
- Baghdad Western North route
This road passes from Baghdad through the Governorates of Salah Al-Din and
Ninewa (Highway No. 1) and further North to Dahuk and finally the Turkish
border. The road is extremely dangerous between Baghdad and the town of Tikrit
794
FCO, Travel Advise by Country – Iraq, see above footnote 790; USDOS, Travel Warning – Iraq, see
above footnote 790.
795
See, for example, Brian Murphy, Bombers Massacre Shiite Pilgrims in Iraq, AP, 7 March 2007,
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2928921.
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