A few Iraqis have arrived in Kathmandu in order to avoid the US led war in their country, according to sources, but none can tell how many of them are seeking refuge in Nepal currently. The United Nations High Commissionfor Refugees (UNHCR) has information on Iraqis arriving here but denied having anyknowledge whether they are seeking asylum.

“We have received information that Iraqis have been here but know no detail about them --whether they are here seekin grefuge or in connection to some private works,“ said Abraham Abraham, officer in-charge at UNHCR. According to him, the UNHCRis trying to obtain more information about Iraqi nationals in Nepal. “They may be tourists as well, nothing can be said because they are in many other countries too,“ Abraham told The HimalayanTimes. He said that UNHCR is planning to hold a meeting with Nepal's government after attaining appropriate information regarding their influx to Nepal. The UNHCR has planned not to send back Iraqis because of the invasion in Iraq by the coalition forces. “It is a very sensitive issue and individual safety should be ensured. The government's role will be important in handling asylum seekers,“ said Abraham elaborating that UNHCR will request the Nepali government if the information about the arrival of Iraqis happens to be true. However, it will not be easy for Nepal to provide shelter to asylum seekers because of its bad economic and political situation. It has been giving shelter to over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees for a decade now.

Published on: 1 April 2013 | The Himalayan Times