They are feeling increasingly trapped, and for security reasons, many have stopped going to work and have taken their children out of school. |
They said the killings, disappearances, and hostage-taking affecting their families, neighbors and friends had become intolerable. |
They were provided with protection and assistance by the former regime and enjoyed a relatively high standard of treatment that some segments of the Iraqi population considered unfair. |
This is even more worrying in the absence of any clear indications as to what might be the nature of the envisaged offshore processing arrangement. If it is not one that meets the same high standards Australia sets for its own processes, this could be tantamount to penalizing for illegal entry. |
This is not the opening of the floodgates, but it is a start. It is quite a significant move since some of these people have been out of their country for 20 years. |
This panic may spread and lead to more Palestinians fleeing Baghdad. |
This really is a race against time and the weather. If we lose, people are going to suffer even more. |
We certainly hope that good cooperation (over refugees) will continue. |
We would like to be sure that the humanitarian character of the refugee camps is respected. |