December 29, 2007

KHARTOUM, (PIC)-- The Sudanese government has declared that all preparations were finalized on the resettlement of 2,000 Palestinians refugees in the outskirts of the capital, Khartoum, within the few coming days.

The Palestinian refugees, who have fled persecution in Iraq at the hands of American occupation forcers and sectarian militias, have been stranded at the Iraqi borders with Syria and Jordan for years.

Refugees' commissioner in the Sudan Mohammed Al-Aghbash said that the UNHCR was coordinating with the Arab League in order to provide financing for relocating those refugees in the Sudan.

He added in a news report carried by Al-Hayat newspaper based in London that the Sudanese government was committed to settling those refuges in the country out of appreciation to their circumstances.

The UNHCR said that around 13,000 Palestinian refugees were still living in Iraq, mostly in the capital Baghdad, where they face daily threats.

Meanwhile, Palestinian refugees in Sidon, southern Lebanon, staged a sit-in on Thursday at the UNRWA central offices in the city to protest the Agency's decision to reduce its health and social services.

They hoisted placards denouncing the "oppressive" policy of the UNRWA and said it must shoulder its responsibility.

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon constitute 10% of the entire number of Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA and around 11% of the total population of Lebanon. The 500,000 Palestinian refugees live in 12 camps.