Iraq + 1 more
Iraq: Turkey continues with preparations for refugee influx
The Turkish government and international
aid agencies continue to prepare for the possibility of a massive influx
of refugees across the Iraqi border, should a U.S.-led military strike
against Iraq occur in the coming weeks. "Anatolia" reported on
3 February that the Red Crescent Society has begun to assign personnel
to refugee camps that are being constructed along the border. The Ankara-based
newspaper reported that Red Crescent will erect tents outside the Turkish
town of Zakho, located approximately 10 kilometers from the southeastern
border crossing of Habur. "More than 300 people who were working at
public institutions and organizations in the southeastern provinces of
Sirnak and Mardin [will] be assigned to those camps," "Anatolia"
quoted unidentified sources as saying. The newspaper also quoted "sources"
as saying that 24,000 tents will be erected outside the town of Sirnak
in the event of a massive influx of Iraqi refugees. Meanwhile, Istanbul's
NTV reported on 2 February that a "comprehensive humanitarian-aid
drill" will take place on 5 February in "the area of [a] tent
city [near the Habur border crossing] where some 200 tents have been erected
so far." KR
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