Iraq to hand over first group of Iranian refugees to Iran

On Monday, Iraq will hand over to Iran the first group of Iranian refugees who deliberately wished to return to their homeland.

This decision was made in compliance with agreements concluded within the framework of a joint humanitarian affairs committee established by the two neighbouring countries.

A group of 138 people will be transported to a checkpoint on the Iraqi-Iranian border. Next week, in the Basra province, Iraqi authorities will open a camp for refugees and temporarily displaced persons that are now in Iran.

The overwhelming majority of these people were forced to flee from their countries during the 1980-1988 war between Iraq and Iran and the 1991 Gulf war.