The powerful earthquake that hit Turkey‘s eastern province of Van on Sunday, October, 23, demolished Van and nearby cities, has collapsed many buildings and left lots of injured. Around one thousands persons have been killed and many victims trapped in the rubble. After the first quake, numbers of heavy ones made the disaster worse. The central office of police of refugee affairs has been destroyed among many others.

Van as a city located near Iran border, hosts hundreds of Iranian refugees who announce themselves to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). According to the reports, houses where Iranian refugees were placed in were totally collapsed. Accommodation of other refugees has insecure condition. Many of Iranian refugees are homeless and they are left shelter less in streets while the weather is cold and many got cold. There are not enough tents available and the shelters are not enough. Refugees’ situation is complicated and miserable.

Refugees haven’t been offered leaving the city legally. However, some have left the city to save their life but they would be in big trouble if the police catch them and they will be immediately prisoned. Refugees’ police office where refugees used to announce their presence weekly was collapsed entirely. United Nations’ staff and their families have left the city as well. As Iranian refugees say, they haven’t received any response or help from police or United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to leave the city. Iranian refugees gathered in front of United Nations’ office many times to request appropriate consideration of their situation. Central office of United Nation in Van city is closed. One of the refugee’s lawyers has announced that the refugees are not permitted to use temporary camps for survivors right now and police forbids them.

Refuges’ request to leave the city was rejected by Turkey’s government as well as the central office of United Nations in Ankara. Some of the refugees, who succeed in reaching Ankara after many troubles, are very afraid of visiting the central      office of United Nations due to their fear of being return to Van city. There are not any other possibilities for hem as there is a chance of being arrested by police.

Van city was destroyed and life with no access to basic life requirements. Police has forbidden selling tickets to refugees when they wanted to leave the city like other citizens. Tickets are sold only by showing kimlik –Turkish ID card- or passport. Police intensely controls the city’s paths and people’s identifications. Police treats the refugees the same way they treat prisoners who escaped jails. Turkish police seems to consider Iranian refugees as criminal prisoners who need to be control strongly and approach them with that perspective.    

Not knowing the local language have made the survived refugees more confused. Transferring the victims to hospitals within Iran is a serious threat for injured refugees. The chance of getting deported by Turkish police is very probable.

The refugees in need of shelters and food are referred to campus – a camp out of the city- by police where there is no food, drinking water and security. There are only some tents with just one blanket without providing the basics. Refuges of Van city have a long history of being approached in unhumanistic behaviors.  United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been blamed by the international communities many times due to their misconduct and imprudence. 

Saving life of hundred refugees who have been left homeless and shelter less is responsibility of United Nation and Turkish government. They are responsible for anything happens to them. All refugees should be moved to a safe place and their medical conditions should be treated urgently. Misbehaviors of Turkish police are not bearable at all and should be ended immediately.

Being in touch with refugees and finding a way to facilitate their conditions have been considered high priority by Iranian federation of Iranian refugees. We urge all Iranian refugees in Van to keep their contact with Iranian federation of Iranian refugees and protest against violating their rights. We try to help them leaving Van to a safe and appropriate place through contacting legal and international authorities.

Iranian federation of Iranian refugees empathies with all Iranian refugees victimized in Van earthquake. V has assigned Siamak Bahari as coordinator of emergency actions. His contact details come below.

 Email: siabahari@yahoo.com

Tel: +46739868051

 

Iranian federation of Iranian refugees

 

October, 25, 2011