TURKEY: KURDISH REFUGEES STRANDED ON MOUNTAINOUS BORDER FACE STARVATION, DISEASE AND EXTRENE COLD
Record ID:
899181
TURKEY: KURDISH REFUGEES STRANDED ON MOUNTAINOUS BORDER FACE STARVATION, DISEASE AND EXTRENE COLD
- Title: TURKEY: KURDISH REFUGEES STRANDED ON MOUNTAINOUS BORDER FACE STARVATION, DISEASE AND EXTRENE COLD
- Date: 9th April 1991
- Summary: (VISNEWS) AID BUNDLES PARACHUTING TO GROUND REFUGEES RUN TOWARDS PARACHUTE DROP ZONE REFUGEES ON RIDGE PEOPLE FIGHT FOR FOOD
- Embargoed: 6th July 2005 15:14
- Keywords:
- Location: CUKURCA, TURKEY / WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES / IRAN-IRAQ BORDER
- City:
- Country: Usa Turkey
- Topics: Conflict,General
- Reuters ID: LVADQTPXLU55ONP7UVXZB4404WT5
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Up to 300,000 Iraqi refugees of Kurdish origin were on Wednesday (April 10) still stranded in the mountainous border region with Turkey, facing starvation, disease and extreme cold.
United Nations officials said a further 300,000 refugees fleeing forces loyal to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein were on their way to join those already in the border region. Aid workers said more international help was needed if thousands of deaths among the refugees were to be avoided.
Western aid efforts brought limited relief to Kurdish refugees at Cukurca camp on the Turkish-Iraqi border. Refugees scrambled to reach food supplies dropped into the camp by parachute.
Turkish soldiers in the region fired shots in the air to calm refugees fighting over food packs being distributed by the military Kurdish resistance leaders said 900,000 refugees had crossed the border - most on foot. Hospitals were full of Kurdish children - some suffering from burns caused by Iraqi attacks - others were suffering from exposure. Some refugees used ropes to cross the River Zap, which separates Iraq and Iran.
The United States on Wednesday (April 10) warned Iraq it must cease all military action near areas where Iraqi refugees had fled.
Speaking in Washington, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said the warning applied to all Iraq's air and ground forces.
He also said the Bush Administration would seek additional funding from Congress for relief efforts. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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