ANKARA - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has completed preparations for serving 600 thousand refugees in case of inflow of refugees during a possible operation against Iraq.
Officials of UNHCR office in Turkey told A.A correspondent on Friday that aid organizations had completed preparations in fields of health, accommodation and food against inflow of refugees across borders of countries neighbor to Iraq.
UNHCR Representative in Turkey Metin Corabatir said that the United Nations (U.N.) was still exerting efforts to avoid war and was taking measures against undesirable scenarios.
Corabatir noted that the humanitarian aid organizations under the umbrella of the U.N. had completed their preparations and that UNHCR had been prepared for serving 600 thousand refugees at the moment.
Humanitarian aid materials had been sent to both Iraq and neighboring countries to be distributed to the civilians quickly, Corabatir pointed out.
Corabatir said, ''we have dispatched blankets, tents, kitchen equipment, heating and illumination equipment, and plastic water cans for 120-130 thousand people to border excluding food and medical equipment. We aim to increase this assistance by the end of March so that we can serve 300 thousand people.''
They could increase their assistance if there was more inflow of refugees, Corabatir stated.
Corabatir said that UNHCR implemented oil for food program in Iraq since 1997 and that 60 percent of Iraqi population equal to 26.5 million was totally dependent on that program.
That aid was distributed to people by the Iraqi government, Corabatir noted.
Corabatir said that basic foodstuff, sugar, flour, salt and kerosene were put in the aid packages.
''Iraqi people are in a more grave situation today when compared with the days before 1991 Gulf War. The Iraqi people are not strong today. 450 thousand tons of aid is sent to Iraq a month. We have concerns that this assistance will not reach Iraqi people and millions of Iraqi people will be left hungry besides the war if an armed clash breaks out. This will lead to another movement of population. It is impossible to throw this aid from planes in the short term,'' said Corabatir.
Corabatir noted that use of weapons of mass destruction by the sides was possible in the event of a possible operation.
UNHCR had concerns about at what extent the Geneva Agreement foreseeing protection of civilians would be implemented, Corabatir pointed out.
Corabatir said that as UNHCR, they sent more than 20 personnel to 15 offices in countries neighbor to Iraq and also, teams comprised of experienced personnel in different parts of the world were alert to come to the region within 72 hours.
Turkish government determined Gaziantep and Van as the entrance gate of humanitarian aid, Corabatir noted.
Corabatir said that aid organizations set up a joint office in Diyarbakir for coordination but the real aid center was Silopi.
Preparations had been made to serve 276 thousand people in 18 refugee camps to be set up across the border, Corabatir pointed out.
Corabatir said that six refugee camps would be formed in Turkey and 80 thousand refugees would be served in those camps.
UNHCR spent 20 million U.S. dollars on those preparations, Corabatir added.
(BRC-AÖ) 28.02.2003