Reg.

# 231/‫أد‬
P. O. Box 13 6299
Beirut Lebanon
Tel/Fax: +961 1 389 556
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Email frontierscenter@cyberia.net.lb 18 April 2007

Statement at the International Conference on Addressing the

Humanitarian Needs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
inside Iraq and Neighboring Countries
On the occasion of the International Conference on Addressing the
Humanitarian Needs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons inside
Iraq and Neighboring Countries, FRONTIERS RUWAD ASSOCIATION
(Lebanon) appeals today on the new restrictive measures by neighboring
countries that hinder Iraqis from seeking safer haven, and urges the
Conference to address the denial of asylum in parallel to the equally-
important issue of humanitarian assistance for the concerned population, as
well as those displaced inside their country of origin Iraq.

FRONTIERS believes that the focus must not only be on humanitarian

assistance to the Iraqi refugees in the region, yet as well on the full
protection regime; humanitarian assistance by itself will not protect the
Iraqis from being arrested, detained and deported on the mere grounds of
illegal entry and/or illegal residency. Therefore, the UN must ensure that
host countries not only provide assistance but more importantly establish an
effective legal protection by accepting the policy of prima facie on Iraqi
refugees.

FRONTIERS also believes that the UN and the international community

must ensure that the available resources be directly channeled to the
disadvantaged Iraqi refugees and displaced persons, thus , FRONTIERS
appeals that the current and hopefully future funds by the UN Appeal be
allocated for the most part to direct assistance of refugees rather than to
operational costs.

Further, FRONTIERS believes that the Conference must address the root
causes of the plight of the Iraqi people inside and outside Iraq in order to
come out with substantial recommendations to end the occupation and the
escalating violence in Iraq.

Frontiers, Ruwad Association is a Lebanese non- profit independent organization providing professional,
sustainable assistance to marginalized people to assist them to understand and access their rights.