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IRAQ / GUTERRES AL-HOL RETURNEES
STORY: IRAQ / GUTERRES AL-HOL RETURNEES
TRT: 02:25
SOURCE: UNAMI
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 02 MARCH 2023, NINEWA GOVERNORATE, IRAQ / 01 MARCH 2023, BAGHDAD, IRAQ
02 MARCH 2023, JEDDAH REHABILITATION CENTRE, NINEWA GOVERNORATE, IRAQ
1. Wide shot, Secretary-General António Guterres interacting with returnees
2. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“I have no doubt to say that the worst camp that exists in today’s world is Al-Hol, with the worst possible conditions for people and with enormous suffering for the people that is stranded there for years. So, they deserve a path out, and this is a matter of human decency and compassion – and a matter of security. Because the longer we let this untenable situation fester, the more resentment and despair will grow, and the greater the risks to security and stability. We must prevent the legacy of yesterday’s fight from fuelling tomorrow’s conflict.”
3. Wide shot, Guterres interacting with returnees
4. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“I want to send a message to all Member States that have nationals in Al-Hol and elsewhere. All Members States must significantly step up their efforts to facilitate the safe and dignified repatriation of their nationals. They need to follow the example of Iraq.”
5. Wide shot, Guterres interacting with returnees
6. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“With all its difficulties, with all its problems, with all the security concerns that are so legitimate in this country, the government of Iraq is committed to make Iraqis come back and to be reintegrated and rehabilitated for the future of the communities and for the future of the country. May the Iraq example be followed everywhere else. Thank you. Shukran.”
01 MARCH 2023, BAGHDAD, IRAQ
7. Various shots, Guterres visiting National Museum of Iraq
Secretary-General António Guterres today (2 Mar) praised Iraq for repatriating its citizens from camps in northeast Syria holding people suspected of having ties to ISIL extremists, urging other governments to “significantly step up their efforts.”
The UN chief was speaking to journalists following a visit to the Jeddah Rehabilitation Centre in northern Iraq, where he met returnees from the notorious Al-Hol camp, whose residents are mainly women and children under 12.
Guterres - a former UN High Commissioner for Refugees who has visited camps across the globe – was certain that Al-Hol is “the worst camp that exists in today’s world”, noting that people have been stranded there for years and in the worst possible conditions.
He said detainees “deserve a path out” and stressed that “this is a matter of human decency and compassion – and it is a matter of security.”
He added, “because the longer we let this untenable situation fester, the more resentment and despair will grow, and the greater the risks to security and stability. We must prevent the legacy of yesterday’s fight from fuelling tomorrow’s conflict.”
The Secretary-General commended the Iraqi Government for its efforts, and said other countries “need to follow the example of Iraq.”
He appealed to countries that have nationals in Al-Hol camp and elsewhere to “significantly step up their efforts” toward the safe and dignified return of these persons.
Before leaving, Guterres said, “with all its difficulties, with all its problems, with all the security concerns that are so legitimate in this country, the government of Iraq is committed to make Iraqis come back and to be reintegrated and rehabilitated for the future of the communities and for the future of the country. May the Iraq example be followed everywhere else.”
On Wednesday (1 Mar) Guterres visited the National Museum of Iraq, in Bagdad.
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