An Appeal to the UNHCR [Archives:2000/15/Local News]

It is regrettable to find out that some UN humanitarian organizations become contaminated with bureaucracy. Complicated bureaucratic procedures would strip off those organizations of their humane orientations, the reason why they have been founded.
Humanitarian measures are meant to have speed and simplicity to fulfill the human objectives of extending merciful hand to individuals suffering from persecution and injustice. Unfortunately some the UN organizations seem to be humanitarian by name only.
I am here to speak specifically about my case and experiment with the UNHCR, Sanaa office.
I am an Iraqi citizen living in Sanaa, Yemen, have applied to the UNHCR office in Sanaa for refugee status for the first time on 26 February, 1999. The office supplied me with a document titled “To whom it may concern,” Reg. No,: 133, dated 6.9.1999, valid until 30.9.1999.
The procedure has been repeated for three other times and now I have four of such documents, each of a 3-month validity. I have been interviewed for four times upon dates of a) 26.2.1999 b) 13.5.1999 c) 1.8.1999 d) 17.10.1999. The latest document I am supplied with is valid until 30.6.2000. All the four documents certify that Mr. Ehsan Jabir Mahdi, born in Iraq is currently considered for refugee status under mandate of UNHCR, the last of which dated on 28.2.2000.
I provided UNHCR Sanaa office with all necessary information and documents proving that I and members of my family were systematically exposed to various sorts of oppression, torture, imprisonment and physical liquidation. I am now leading a very miserable life and waiting for all those months to see a ray of hope shown to me by UNHCR Sanaa office, but in no avail. Therefore, I have become convinced that the organization is not virtually concerned with my case and several other similar cases. Upon this conviction, I believe this office is practicing some kind of discrimination in dealing with refugees’ cases heedless of their sufferings and misery.
I present this case of mine before the UNHCR, hoping it will be seriously studied and considered and a speedy humanitarian solution be found to it.

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