Iraqi Red Crescent prepares camp for thousands displaced from Fallujah

http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/f2fd5bdc9333868349256e76000da982?OpenDocument

Source: Agence France-Presse
Date: 13 Apr 2004

Iraqi Red Crescent prepares camp for thousands displaced from Fallujah

BAGHDAD, April 13 (AFP) - The Iraqi Red Crescent said Tuesday it was preparing to set up a camp for thousands of Iraqi families who fled from the bitter fighting between US marines and insurgents in the Sunni bastion of Fallujah.
An initial 170 refugee tents are to provide refuge for about 750 people, said Mohammed Ibrahim, responsible for the emergency aid operation on the edge of the besieged city west of Baghdad.
It was not immediately clear whether the camp would offer long-term shelter or serve only as a half-way home for those heading to stay with relatives elsewhere in Iraq.
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"We get requests every day for supplies of aid and tents for families in areas of Baghdad. Just this morning, 22 families from Fallujah arrived in the district of Yarmuk and are sheltering in a mosque," said Ibrahim.

"We have given them tents to live in," he added.

Displaced Fallujah residents are also taking refugee in Baghdad's western suburb of Choola.

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http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/5e502d98cf84442b49256e7600061fae?OpenDocument

Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Date: 13 Apr 2004
Baghdadis aid Fallujah refugees

As morning breaks in the west Baghdad neighbourhood of Hayy al-Shurta, a small crowd of curious residents approaches three pick-up trucks and a saloon car parked by the side of a dirt road. Inside, families are huddled up asleep.

"Are you from Fallujah?" asked shopkeeper Walid Muhammed. "Our house is open. We have food and water."

All across west Baghdad, residents have opened their homes to refugees from Fallujah in one of many displays of solidarity with the embattled town.

Responding to a sermon by prominent Sunni preacher Hareth al-Dhaeri in the area's Um al-Qura mosque, many Baghdadis have combed the highways, looking for pick-up trucks loaded with families, to invite them to their homes.

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http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/401c53fb38cd8d94c1256e750045d86b?OpenDocument

Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Date: 13 Apr 2004

Iraq: displaced fleeing Fallujah fighting arriving in Baghdad

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at the press briefing, on 13 April 2004, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

UNHCR is naturally very concerned about the situation in Iraq, which has resulted in considerable displacement. Over the weekend displaced people fleeing the fighting in Fallujah continued to arrive in Baghdad.

Over the past three days, UNHCR has made available some 3,500 blankets, 1,200 mattresses, 5 emergency health kits (benefitting over 50,000 people), 500 stoves and 500 plastic sheets to cater for displaced people from Fallujah in Baghdad. The goods are being delivered by NGOs (such as Intersos, Première Urgence and Islamic Relief among others) to the most needy displaced people and institutions, especially hospitals. Two of the released health kits will be used by Première Urgence today as they will be conducting a mission to Najaf where, reportedly, the health situation is not so good.

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