UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...

VI. EFFECTIVE PROTECTION OF REFUGEES OF ARAB ORIGIN
IN IRAQ
Refugees of Sunni Arab origin, in particular Palestinians, Syrians and Iranians (Ahwazis),
have come under increased pressure due to their perceived affiliation with the former
regime and the ongoing Sunni-led insurgency. 847 There have been consistent allegations of
Arab refugees becoming targets for false accusations in the media, arbitrary detention,
extra-judicial executions and torture by militias, and evictions. The Iraqi Government is
responsible for providing protection to these refugees, given that they cannot avail
themselves of the protection of their home countries. Shi’ite-dominated ISF and militias
have been identified as the main perpetrators of attacks against refugees. 848 Currently, the
Iraqi authorities are neither willing nor able to provide effective protection, which requires
the delivery of legal, physical and material protection. Also, many refugees of Arab origin
do not hold valid documentation, limiting their freedom of movement, access to services
and putting them at risk of detention and possibly refoulement. While “effective protection”
should be linked to the seeking of viable durable solutions, the current security and political
climate as well as economic conditions in Iraq do not allow for the refugees’ local
integration.
Palestinian refugees make up the largest refugee group in Iraq. They have been targeted
since the fall of the former regime. Security incidents against Palestinian refugees have
steadily risen since the 22 February 2006 Samarra bombing. However, in December 2006,
there was a sharp increase of reports of threats, abductions and killings. 849 Between
November 2006 and January 2007, UNHCR received reports of 37 Palestinians killed in
targeted attacks. There are regular reports of bodies found with torture marks. In the case of
abductions, at times ransoms have been requested. However, payment does not necessarily
result in the release of the family member. There have even been reports that families have
had to pay a ransom for the return of a relative’s corpse. While most reported incidents are
targeted attacks, including killings and kidnappings, they include mortar attacks on
Palestinian residential areas, presumably by militias, and group detentions by ISF. The
Baladiyat compound, the principal Palestinian area in Baghdad, came under mortar attack
twice in December 2006, causing deaths and injuries, including small children. In January
2007, two group detentions took place on the same day. There were allegations of
mistreatment, and possibly torture, at the hands of the ISF from one of the groups of
detainees. The rise in attacks has led to increasing numbers of Palestinians fleeing to the
Iraqi-Syrian border. 850 It is believed that the vast majority of Palestinians having been able
847
See for further information: UNHCR’s Press Briefing Notes, available at http://www.unhcr.org/cgibin/texis/vtx/iraq?page=briefing,
which regularly provide updates on the situation of Palestinians in
particular. See also: Gabriela Wengert and Michelle Alfaro, Can Palestinian refugees in Iraq find protection?,
Forced Migration Review, No. 26, September 2006, http://www.fmreview.org/FMRpdfs/FMR26/
FMR2609.pdf.
848
See also “Lack of National Protection”.
849
For a (non-comprehensive) list of reported incidents involving Palestinian refugees, see “Annex IX:
Attacks on Palestinian Refugees in Iraq”.
850
As of 31 January 2007, UNHCR assisted a total of 1,087 Palestinians ex-Iraq in Syria, Jordan and the
Iraq-Syrian border areas (97 refugees in the Ruweished Camp in Jordan, 356 Palestinians in the No Man’s
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