PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, 03 December, 2009
“The resettlement of sixteen Palestinian families (totalling 65 refugees) began today with
their arrival in Australia,” said Mr Yousef Alreemawi, a Palestinian academic at The University
of Melbourne and Arabic community leader who initiated this resettlement process.
Mr Alreemawi was inspired by a caller to his radio show “Palestine Remembered”, at
Community Radio 3CR asking him to report on the deteriorating living conditions of some
Palestinian Iraqis on the Iraq-Syria border.
The refugees fled harassment, arbitrary detention, rape, torture and targeting by death
squads in Iraq.
“After twenty-two months and hundreds of hours of voluntary work, we are pleased these
families are finally arriving in Perth and Melbourne. These stateless refugees have spent the
past five years in desert camps and will finally get the opportunity to establish homes and live
‘normal’ lives,” said Mr Alreemawi.
Since the war in Iraq began in 2003, an estimated 19,000 Palestinians have fled Iraq. Of these
refugees, approximately 2,500 have been stranded, in make-shift desert camps on the Iraq-
Syria border, some for more than five years.
"Living conditions in the border camps are extreme, unsafe and continue to deteriorate. Camp
refugees face high temperatures and regular sand storms and more than half of them require
urgent medical treatment," a U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson
Ron Redmond said.
Australian Supporters for the Palestinian-Iraqi Refugees Emergency (ASPIRE) and
Amnesty International give support to Palestinian refugees.
ASPIRE, a group of Australian academics, lawyers, business people, musicians and university
students was created to assist in the resettlement of the Palestinian refugees in Australia.
Equally important was the help of Dr.Graham Thom (Refugees Coordinator of Amnesty
International- Sydney) who visited the camps for the same purpose. Dr. Thom’s advocacy and
the legal advice of Peggy Kerdo (Lawyer and Clinical Supervisor- La Trobe University) paved
the way for the applications to be lodged.
“Australia is an
amazing country, and we would like to recognise the efforts the
Commonwealth government, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, especially Dr Jamal
Rifi and of all those involved in the ASPIRE project and the generosity and welcoming
hospitality of Australian society,” said Mr Alreemawi.
Media contact: Yousef Alreemawi 0449 026 499 or email: reemawi_y@hotmail.com
NEWS 
