ANKARA - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) delegation on Monday visited Parliamentary Human Rights Commission within the scope of evacuation of Mahmur Camp in north of Iraq where nearly 13,000 people were living.
A delegation, headed by Kamel Morjane, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), met with Mehmet Elkatmis, the Chairman of Parliamentary Human Rights Commission.
Evacuation of Mahmur Camp and return of those living in the camp to Turkey were discussed during the meeting which was closed to the press.
Morjane said evacuation of Mahmur Camp, involving those who went from the Southeast in 1990's was on the agenda for a long time, but that they decided to take action as the Turkish government was positive toward the issue.
Stressing the importance of forming conditions for return of those living in the camp, Morjane said return of them should be voluntary, just, and should be in a way to suit with honor of human beings under international agreements.
Morjane said number of people living in the camp increased in time, noting that nearly 3,000 people returned in time. Morjane recalled that there were around 13,000 refugees living in the camp.
Citizenship problems of those people who were born and got married in the camp, their properties in Turkey, and compensation of their loses should be solved.
Morjane said U.N. would expend financial contribution to evacuate the camp and to provide return of people living there.
Elkatmis expressed willingness of the Commission to visit the camp, stating that the visit could not take place so far because of security reasons due to Iraq war.
Elkatmis said Foreign Ministry continued studies on the issue, recalling that an inventory study was carried out under the supervision of the U.N.
(AY) 17.11.2003