In response to a continuously deteriorating humanitarian situation, the European Commission has adopted a decision to provide €13 million in additional support to vulnerable populations in the Middle East. Activities will include: (i) the provision of food, water, emergency health care, and job opportunities for vulnerable Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; (ii) health care, water and sanitation services to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon; and (iii) health services for refugees from Iraq hosted in camps in Jordan and in the "no-man's

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By Mariam Karouny

BEIRUT (Reuters) - There will be no happier day for Ali, an Iraqi refugee in Lebanon, than when he plants his feet on his beloved Iraqi soil after years in exile.

But fear is delaying his homecoming.

The suicide attacks, bombings and shootings that have plagued Iraq since the United States toppled President Saddam Hussein in April have shattered security in the country, and Iraqi refugees in Lebanon doubt the wisdom of returning now.

Not a day passes without an attack on a U.S. patrol or position. Bomb attacks on the United Nations and international

GENEVA, July 9 (KUNA) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced Wednesday that the top five donors for the Iraqi program are so far USA (USD 18 million), Canada (USD 4.6 million), Germany (USD 3.2 million), Japan (2.8 million), while Kuwait and the Netherlands have each donated USD two million.

Meanwhile, the special representative of the refugee agency in Iraq, Dennis McNamara, announced that High Commissioner Ruud Lubbers would be meeting, next Monday, with representatives of European and regional states, where Iraqis reside and show interest to go home.

IP/03/958
Brussels, 8 July 2003 - The European Commission has approved a €10 million humanitarian aid package to support victims of the crisis in the Palestinian Territories and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The funds, allocated via the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson, will help meet the basic food, health, household, water/sanitation and protection needs of vulnerable groups. The programme will be implemented by ECHO's usual partners such as non-governmental organisations and the

Appeal Target: CHF 2,267,590
Period covered: January -June 2003
The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 180 countries. For more information: www.ifrc.org

In Brief

Appeal coverage: CHF 1,480,223; 65%
Outstanding needs: CHF 880,525
Related Emergency or Annual Appeals: Iraq and Neighbouring Countries: Humanitarian Crisis (Appeal 08/03)

Programme Summary: Despite the

Doc. 9808
Report

Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography
Rapporteur: Mr Olav Akselsen, Norway, Socialist Group

Summary

The main aim of this report is to examine the conditions in which the Palestinian refugees stay irrespective of the place: be that in the Middle East or Europe. It looks closely at the applicability of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and, more generally, at legal status and assistance provided to the Palestinian refugees.

INTRODUCTION
During the period leading up to the recent military intervention in Iraq, UNHCR undertook a review of the various humanitarian scenarios which could result from such intervention. Contingency plans and preparedness measures focused on providing protection and relief to a potential refugee outflow. UNHCR also began planning for the possibility of a new state of affairs in Iraq that would be conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Iraqi refugees already residing abroad.

AID FINANCING: 53.36 MILLION EUROS

The Spanish authorities have so far committed 53,36 million euros in humanitarian aid related to the crisis in Iraq, from the following sources: