Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=8/19/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=UNHCR / IRAQ (L-O)

NUMBER=2-306636

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-N officials say the explosion at their headquarters in Baghdad has placed the U-N refugee agency's effort to repatriate Iraqi refugees in jeopardy. Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.

TEXT: U-N-H-C-R spokesman Kris Janowski tells V-O-A the blast that wrecked the U-N headquarters building in Baghdad has thrown his agency's activities in doubt.

/// JANOWSKI ACT ///

This attack in Baghdad has certainly changed the situation dramatically in terms of U-S security. But we have absolutely no idea whether this (repatriation effort) will go ahead. We cannot say that it will not and we cannot say that it will. It will all have to be probably reviewed centrally by the U-N and then a decision will be taken on how the United Nations is going to respond to this.

/// END ACT ///

There are about 47-hundred Iraqi refugees in Rafha camp. Many deserted from the army or were taken as prisoners of war during the first Gulf War. Mr. Janowski says most of these men are eager to return home.

Mr. Janowski says the explosion may affect the entire U-N operation in Iraq.

The refugee agency, worried about security in Iraq, had already decided to return Iraqi refugees in small groups. Repatriation in large numbers was planned for next year when the refugee agency hoped the conditions in Iraq would improve.

In another development in Baghdad, Mr. Janowski says more than 82-hundred Palestinian refugees were evicted from their homes by landlords who wanted higher rents or a return of their property. He says the Palestinians received special treatment under Saddam Hussein.

/// 2ND JANOWSKI ACT ///

There have been cases of hostility, of people being unceremoniously kicked out of their housing and there has been some resentment toward the Palestinians who are seen as the darlings of the regime. The regime paid their rent and the regime subsidized them. So, that might have aroused some envy and caused some resentment.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Janowski says those Palestinian refugees will now need help. (SIGNED)

NEB/LS/MAR/KL/RAE