Last week we introduced you to the Palestinians of the Al-Waleed Camp, just a few of the millions of refugees from the war and ongoing violence in Iraq. This week we’ll look a little more closely at life in this desert encampment, and hear a little bit about how the Palestinian Authority has performed in supporting their citizens who, until recently, were living quite peaceably in Iraq.

The Palestinian citizens now trapped in Al-Waleed Camp accuse the Palestinian Authority of using their suffering to play political games with Israel. The Palestinian Authority announced that it would accept its citizens back in the West Bank. As the situation worsens, there is no immediate prospect of a solution. The only proposal thus far, an offer by the Palestinian Authority to take in the refugees, was rejected by Israel.

However, the refugees express the feeling that the situation is not as simplistic as it seems. They claim that other states, particularly in Europe, have since expressed willingness to resettle them, but that the PA refuses to accept these solutions, preferring to leave their citizens in the desert, pawns in a political game with Israel.

This program was produced by Alive in Baghdad.

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aliveinbaghdad.org