- Title: Finding sites for displaced from Mosul won't be easy if exodus is huge - UNHCR
- Date: 23rd October 2016
- Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (OCTOBER 23, 2016) (REUTERS) U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES FILIPPO GRANDI AND THE JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER NASSER JUDEH TALKING GRANDI SEATED JUDEH SEATED GRANDI SEATED ALONGSIDE HIS DELEGATION JUDEH SEATED WITH OFFICIALS JUDEH AND GRANDI TALKING GRANDI AND JUDEH ENTERING ROOM FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES FILIPPO GRANDI, SAYING: "Possible outflow of people - in fact, most of them will be displaced within Iraq, maybe some we have observed, some crossing into Syria, but still very small numbers, and a lot of preparations in all areas - shelter, water, food, medicines, you name it. The big challenge which I observed, and which we are addressing slowly but surely, is sites to put people. It's not easy," PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES FILIPPO GRANDI, SAYING: "Of course if the exodus will be huge then that will be a big challenge. That will depend really on how the offensive is conducted essentially, and the intentions are all very good. I was telling the minister what I heard from the prime minister of Iraq, from the president of the Kurdish region, is very sound, makes sense in terms of the conduct of hostilities in terms of how the relationship with the civilians will be - that's the key issue, not the terrorists, I'm talking about the civilians, but that will, you know, will depend a lot on how it evolves locally." LOGO OF JORDAN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, NASSER JUDEH, SAYING: "The humanitarian crisis that is happening right now, and it will continue to happen, if the situation goes on in Aleppo in particular. The world has to pay attention to it. The truce, if God willing, the goal is to let in relief items .But the situation is tragic, not only in Aleppo but also across Syria. Again we stress that the solution is a political solution that will guarantee the end of this humanitarian crisis." GRANDI AND JUDEH SHAKING HANDS
- Embargoed: 7th November 2016 11:43
- Keywords: Iraq Mosul Syria Aleppo Filippo Grandi UNHCR refugees displaced
- Location: AMMAN, JORDAN
- City: AMMAN, JORDAN
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees
- Reuters ID: LVA00155852KN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, is actively preparing for outflows of civilians leaving the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, but the big challenge will be finding sites to accommodate them if there is a huge exodus, Filippo Grandi, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said on Sunday (October 23).
Speaking during a visit to Jordan where he met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, Grandi was asked about the U.N. preparations to meet the needs of refugees fleeing Mosul as coalition forces pressed their offensive against Islamic State's last stronghold in Iraq.
Grandi emphasised he was talking about 'possible' outflows of refugees from Iraq.
"In fact, most of them will be displaced within Iraq, maybe some we have observed, some crossing into Syria, but still very small numbers, and a lot of preparations in all areas - shelter, water, food, medicines, you name it. The big challenge which I observed, and which we are addressing slowly but surely, is sites to put people. It's not easy," Grandi said.
UNHCR said recently up to 100,000 Iraqis may flee to Syria and Turkey to escape the Iraqi government's assault aimed at ousting Islamic State from Mosul. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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