Page 9 - ATD19DEC2015
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WORLD NEWS 9
Saturday 19 December 2015
Jordan starts deporting Sudanese asylum seekers
KARIN LAUB tremely concerned” about A general view of the U.N. refugee agency headquarters after troops tore down the tents the Su-
JAMEY KEATEN others held at the loading danese had pitched a month ago to press demands for resettlement to a third country, in Amman,
Associated Press bay. Jordan. Jordan on Friday began deporting hundreds of Sudanese asylum seekers, despite warn-
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — A Sudanese activist in Jor- ings by the U.N. refugee agency that they could face danger and persecution in their troubled
Jordan on Friday began dan who was in touch with homeland.
deporting hundreds of Su- some of his countrymen in
danese asylum seekers, detention said at one point, (AP Photo/ Raad Adayleh)
despite warnings by the they staged a protest and
U.N. refugee agency that that Jordanian forces re-
they could face danger sponded with tear gas and
and persecution in their beatings. The activist only
troubled homeland. gave a partial name, Abu
Jordanian security forces Ehab. His claim could not
rounded up about 800 Su- immediately be confirmed.
danese earlier this week, McDonnell said UNHCR has
with the intention of de- registered more than 3,500
porting them. Troops tore Sudanese in Jordan. Of
down their makeshift tent those, 58 percent were rec-
camp in the capital Am- ognized as refugees and
man, and detained them the rest as asylum seekers.
at a holding bay near the She noted that all those
country’s international air- registered with the agency
port. in the two categories enjoy
The deportations epito- international protection,
mized dilemmas faced by adding that 70 percent are
many European, Mideast from Sudan’s troubled Dar-
and African countries that fur region.
have faced a refugee influx “We believe many, if not
in recent years. Jordan has most” of those being de-
otherwise drawn plaudits ported were registered
from U.N. officials for being with the agency, she said.
more welcoming that most Guterres, whose 10-year
by taking in many Iraqis, tenure ends on Dec. 31,
Syrians and Palestinians. also expressed concern
In Geneva, the U.N. High about growing wariness
Commissioner for Refugees worldwide about refu-
Antonio Guterres said the gees and noted a “trend
world community had a toward a more restrictive
“huge debt” to Jordan but approach to refugee poli-
also noted the incident cies.” He cited contributing
over the Sudanese. factors such as public re-
“We have been in close action to the large number
contact with the Jorda- of refugees pouring into Eu-
nian government on the rope and concerns about
Sudanese question,” said security in the wake of ter-
Guterres, said UNHCR’s po- ror attacks in Paris and else-
sition was that the Suda- where recently.
nese in need of protection “We need to understand
should not be deported. that refugees are the first
The deportations began victims of terror, and they
early Friday and most of are refugees exactly be-
those slated for deporta- cause they are fleeing ar-
tion were to be flown out of eas where terrorism, vio-
Jordan throughout the day, lence and other forms of
said government spokes- persecution have been
man Mohammed Momani. proliferating more strong-
By noon, three planes with ly,” he said.
430 Sudanese on board UNHCR has tried to halt Jor-
had left, said Aoife Mc- dan’s deportations to Su-
Donnell, a refugee agency dan, saying the Sudanese
spokeswoman in Jordan. asylum seekers risk possible
She said the agency is “ex- persecution there and that
