RIYADH, 20 June 2003 — Some half a million Iraqi refugees around the world, including 1,500 from the Kingdom, would like to return to Iraq this year if the security situation there permits, according to Dr. Mustafa Omar, resident representative of the UNHCR in Riyadh. He was speaking at a three-day photo exhibition that opened at the National Museum in King Abdul Aziz Historical Center here.

Dr. Omar said the photo exhibition was intended to raise public awareness about the plight of 900,000 Iraqi refugees around the world, of whom 500,000 intend to return by the end of this year. He said the cost of their rehabilitation came to $118 million.

The refugees agency has produced a videocassette with the stories of five refugee children which seeks to raise awareness of their problems. The release of the film coincides with World Refugees Day, whose theme for this year is refugee youth. Dr. Omar said the event would also seek to highlight the role of the UNHCR in the rehabilitation of refugees.

The UNHCR representative said Iraqi refugees from Rafha camp near the Saudi-Iraqi border were being registered for possible return. However, the UNHCR was monitoring the security situation in Iraq to make sure that the conditions are conducive to their return.

Of the 5,269 refugees still accommodated at the Rafha camp, 1,500 have said they want to return immediately. However, the interim administration in Iraq would like the repatriation process to be gradual and well organized.

Dr. Omar said once the registration formalities were complete, the UNHCR, in conjunction with the Saudi government, would arrange for their repatriation. The refugees would also get financial assistance to help them begin a new life on their return home.

The resident representative said the Kingdom had provided good educational facilities in primary to secondary education for the refugee children in addition to computer training and English language learning programs.

The UNHCR official also said an education trust fund had been created for the refugee children. “Until we find a lasting solution for their problems, we have to provide them with education and technical training so that they can become self-supporting in future,” Dr. Omar said. He added that some 1.5 million young refugees around the world benefited from the education trust fund.