Focus on Iraqi refugees

In a tent in the middle of the dusty desert landscape in soaring temperatures on the Jordanian/Iraqi border, an Iraqi refugee stands pumping iron in a makeshift gym to the rhythm of the latest Western pop songs. "Come and join us," he shouts, pointing to what looks like an extremely heavy dumb bell. The refugee spends most of his days at the al-Ruweished camp, some 350 km east of the Jordanian capital, Amman, perfecting his physique. Next to him stands another refugee, of a smaller build, but still very toned. "Would you like me to cut your hair?" he asks, pointing to the makeshift hairdressing salon in the tent next door. The camp was established following the 2003 US-led war in Iraq when thousands of people fled to various neighbouring countries in search of safety. Looking around the fenced camp, some 3 sq km of land, now home to 152 people living in tarpaulin tents, it is clear that a tiny village has emerged. Residents do not want to return to their homeland because they feel it is not safe. Most of the refugees are Palestinians who settled in Iraq to escape the fighting in their own country, but left when the war started in March 2003. While the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said that the country is not safe to return to, it will facilitate returns for those who are desperate to go back and have difficulties crossing an often dangerous border. Between April and July 2004, 226 Palestinians went back to Iraq, provided with an assistance package of non-food items, as well as a cash grant to cover transport and accommodation to last until the end of the year. However, repatriation from the camps has almost stopped now, with only one refugee repatriating in August and only one so far in September, according to UNHCR. TENTED VILLAGE With insecurity inside Iraq, camp residents say they are trying to make the most of their stay in the dry and extreme conditions at al-Ruweished and it was clear to see that aid agencies were doing their best to make life as comfortable as possible for them, catering for the young and old, men and women. At one side of the camp, there is a mother and baby centre, funded by the international NGO, CARE. There is a flurry inside as groups of women gather for a chat along with their children who play happily with toys and other toddlers. "Our living conditions were better in Iraq, but we can't go back there now," Ferdose Idid, 34, a refugee from Somalia who was living in Iraq, told IRIN at al-Ruweished. Together with her four children, she spends her days in the centre thinking about how and where she will go next. "I don't want to stay here forever. It is not the best solution for me and my family," she added, while adjusting her bright blue headscarf. "Life is hard here. There are snakes and scorpions, which can get into our tents easily," Omaira Raghib, another female refugee, told IRIN. "Weather conditions are bad all the time, either too hot or too cold. Winter is about to start and we need proper housing," she complained. "We are tired or moving around now and we want peace," she added. PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER Enduring a second winter at the camp is particularly nerve wracking for some. "Winter is coming and it's going to be tough. I hope the weak ones can survive," said one elderly refugee. "In order to assist refugees to the extent possible, a range of measures will be implemented: winter clothing will be distributed, the kerosene ration will be doubled to provide sufficient fuel for heating/cooking stoves and additional non-food items will be distributed," head of the UNHCR in Jordan, Sten Bronee, told IRIN from Amman. A survey was underway to determine which additional non-food items refugees would be needed for the coming winter, he added. ACTIVITIES AND ASSISTANCE ON OFFER Back in the mother and baby centre, children are kept busy and their activities are visible as the walls are covered with brightly painted pictures. They also receive education there, offered through the Jordanian government and supported by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The operation of the camps was agreed upon between UNHCR and the Jordanian authorities in April. It allows the refugee agency to "provide accommodation to those Iraqi and other nationals in need of temporary protection, pending longer-term and durable solutions, in particular the safe return to their country of origin or habitual residence or resettlement in third countries," the agreement says. Refugees are provided with food on a regular basis, which includes daily fresh bread, fruit, eggs and yoghurt. Complementary food such as tinned meat, canned sardines, beans, lentils, rice, oil, tea, sugar and salt are distributed every three weeks. Powdered milk and biscuits are also provided. In addition, families are given 80 litres of kerosene per month during the winter months for cooking and heating. This ration is halved during the summer. Personal hygiene items such as shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, detergent and soap are regularly distributed. Potable water is provided daily by tanker with a minimum of 20 litres per person per day during the winter months. This ration is doubled in summer. The camp is managed by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) on behalf of Amman. It has established a clinic to deal with any medical problems on site. According to a Dr Ehsam there were no serious cases at present. "If we have any difficult cases we refer them to the hospital in Amman," he explained proudly, pointing to a cabinet full of basic medicines. "In general the situation is relatively calm here and the refugees are well looked after. Their needs are catered for," Mohammed Al-Kuda, camp manager from the JHCO, told IRIN at al-Ruweished. "However, they are under a lot of stress. They have been here for a very long time and weather conditions are severe. It is extremely hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter," he explained. In order to help relieve such symptoms a range of recreational activities for both adults and children are organised. There are libraries, handicrafts, football, painting, sewing, singing, chess, table tennis and even a television. This is in addition to vocational training such as welding, carpentry, mechanics and sewing. Despite all the help and facilities on offer, it has now been more than a year since the first refugee arrived from Iraq and many say they are tired of their situation, hoping for peace in their homeland, peace that looks a long way off given the current insecurity. NO-MAN'S-LAND Some 80 km from al-Ruweished, on the border with Iraq in no-man's-land, there is another camp. This one is home to some 1,000 refugees, mainly Iranian Kurds. Again unable to return to Iraq or home to Iran, most claim to be political opponents of their government. They say they are waiting for a permanent solution. "We want resettlement," Malka Chirghi, told IRIN in no-man's-land. "These conditions are unbearable," she added, clutching her baby covered in dust. These refugees are provided with similar assistance to those in al-Ruweished along with the same primary health care services, dental treatment and psycho-social assistance. This camp, too, has become a small fenced village and some refugees have even resorted to creating a mini oasis outside their tents by growing ferns, herbs and fruit such as melons. Most residents here are able to speak English and informal primary education including subjects such as maths, Persian, English and Kurdish is offered. Outside the camp, there is a hive of activity at the border customs office. Queues of cars are seen lining up to enter or leave Iraq. The most common sight is lines of heavy goods vehicles carrying second hand cars to be sold in Iraq. But this gives little hope to people in the camp. "Look outside, there is no work for us here. We feel useless," Mustafa Karim, a refugee, told IRIN, while raising his hands in despair. "We are stuck here in the middle of nowhere," he added. The majority of the refugees here are adamant about what they want. "We want to leave this place and live in peace. We want to live abroad in Europe," Shirin, 12, told IRIN. "Without doubt, all the refugees would want third country resettlement," Bronee said. "However, only those refugees meeting specific criteria are submitted for resettlement," he added. This year 879 individuals from the two camps have been submitted to resettlement countries, including the US, Australia and Nordic nations. Of these, Sweden has recently accepted 384 Iranian Kurds, according to UNHCR. Focus on Iraqi refugees - photo gallery