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