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