The Board of Trustees of the Welfare Association has made a special decision to provide $100,000 for urgent humanitarianassistance to Palestine refugees from Iraq. The funds will be coordinated through UNRWA to provide basic relief services including medicine, education, relief and social services in al-Tanf and al-Hol camps.

A group of 339 Palestine refugees, who fled Iraq after persecution, inhuman treatment and threats, specifically related to their Palestine identity, is stranded in the no-man's land between Iraq and Syria. The camp situation is very difficult; the tents are crammed together on a narrow strip of land and subject to extreme weather conditions. There are 154 children under the age of 18 and 77 women in the camp and a number of refugees with extreme disabilities. The atmosphere in the camp is one of frustration and desperation as the refugees can neither return to Iraq nor enter Syria. All of these issues reflect negatively on the health status of the refugees. The location of the camp is difficult to access making delivering adequate health, sanitary and educational services a challenge.

Photos: Al Awda California http://al-awdacal.org/refugees/iraq-photos.html