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CNN Live At Daybreak
Third Country Refugees Enter Jordan
Aired March 21, 2003 - 06:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Want to head live to Kuwait now and check in with Bill Hemmer. Some frightening moments this morning, the air raid sirens sounded again and there was reason to be worried.
Tell us about it -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Carol, here's the latest information we have. About an hour ago when the air raid sirens went off in Kuwait City yet again today, the second time we've had that since the sun came up this morning. Kuwait information now indicates that Patriot missile batteries were launched, three of them, in northwestern Kuwait knocking this missile from the sky.
I want to add -- urge our viewers to be patient with us at times. The information changes quickly. Sometimes during a developing story like this we like to backtrack a little bit. Last hour, Kuwait government telling us here at CNN that this was an incoming Scud. Want to pull back from that a little bit and just call it a missile at this point. An important distinction based on the range and the ability of these missiles to fly from the north into the south. Nonetheless, though, no reports of injuries. And again, that Patriot missile, we're told, one of the three able to knock that missile from the sky.
Meanwhile, we can talk about POWs right now, Carol. A lot of videotape coming in right now, not only on the Iraqi side of the border, but also, too, on the Kuwaiti side of this conflict. We have videotape that shows dozens of Iraqi soldiers who essentially crossed the line, came into Kuwait, offered their surrender earlier today.
Also there's nighttime video of British Marines working and operating in southern Iraq that clearly show dozens of Iraqi soldiers surrendering essentially, putting down their weapons, putting their arms over their heads and walking away in the direction that British troops command them to.
We're told right now on this night video what you can see quite clearly in some of the hands of these Iraqi soldiers is the leaflets, the pamphlets that have been dropped by U.S. and British troops over the past several months. This is similar, we're told, to what happened during the surrender of many of these Iraqi soldiers in the first Persian Gulf War 12 years ago.
In addition to that, on these leaflets they give specific instructions on how to surrender, what to do with your weapon and the assurances by the U.S. and the British that there is food waiting for you if indeed you choose this course of action. Getting reports of that throughout the day and last night as well.
Want to talk about the oil well fires again. Earlier today when we woke up, we noticed the skies around here were dark and considerably in Kuwait City. Since then, though, they've lightened considerably. There might be a reason for that. You heard Geoffrey Hoon in the House of Commons say there's at least 30 oil well fires burning right now throughout Iraq. We can confirm, at least in southern Iraq right now, four oil refineries were lit earlier today. They say they were lit by retreating Iraqi soldiers. Two have been extinguished by U.S. Marines, one is being worked on right now, said to be under control, a fourth one, though, yet to be extinguished at this point. That may account -- again, it may account for why the skies are lightening yet again here in Kuwait City.
We've talked with our reporters who have canvassed the region. Amazing access with those embedded with the U.S. military.
Want to take you further west in the region right now. Matthew Chance is sitting along the Iraqi-Jordanian border. He's at a refugee camp there. Let's pick things up with Matthew about what he is seeing from his perspective there.
Matthew, hello, good afternoon.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello to you as well, Bill.
And our perspective here on the eastern Jordanian frontier with Iraq, one of people trickling out at this stage from Iraq saying they're simply too frightened to stay inside that country at this time.
You join me here at a very dusty makeshift camp in eastern Jordan, very close to the frontier with Iraq. What we have here are about 450 third country nationals. People from mainly countries like Sudan and Somalia who've been working and studying with their families inside Iraq, living and working inside there, taking this opportunity to come out. What we don't have, at this stage, are any Iraqi refugees coming out of the country at this point.
These third country nationals are being dealt with quite efficiently at this stage by the aid agencies, by the Jordanian authorities. Registered, moved on to buses and taken to the ports and to the airports to be moved back to their home countries.
But the big fear on the minds of everybody here in Jordan and elsewhere who's been planning the relief effort is the possibility of a wide scale humanitarian crisis and an influx of refugees across the border from Iraq.
Well joining me to discuss that very issue is Patrick Howard, who's the Disaster Management Coordinator of the International Federation of the -- of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Thank you very much, Mr. Walker, for being with us.
First of all, why is it that we're seeing, at this stage, only third country nationals and no Iraqi refugees coming across?
PATRICK HOWARD, INT'L. FED. OF RED CROSS: I really don't know. You'll have to ask the Jordanian government why if the border is closed. We have no information of any Iraqis on the other side, but we are ready to receive anybody who is required, who needs shelter inside Jordan.
CHANCE: Well the Jordanians say very clearly they won't turn anybody away who is in humanitarian need. Are they cooperating from your point of view?
HOWARD: I really don't know. This is not my -- my issue is to take care of those people who are seeking asylum in Jordan and who require a place to stay and something to eat and some water to drink. And that's what we're providing, plus some health care.
CHANCE: How real are your concerns and the concerns of other aid workers, as well as the Jordanian authorities, that there will be a massive influx of Iraqi refugees as this war continues?
HOWARD: Well my concern is that at the moment we only have a capacity of 5,000. And we have just recently launched an appeal in order so we can expand our camp to take 25,000. In addition, we have a preparedness in other countries, like Syria, Turkey and Iran, who are also building up. But it takes time because we are now appealing for funds. Everything you see here is bought on credit and has to be reimbursed. So we are prepared and we are hoping to get funds so we can expand and receive anybody who wants to come to Jordan and seek asylum.
CHANCE: Now the United States, among others, has been calling on the Iraqi people not to leave their country, but to buckle down, hunker down and stay there and assuring them that they will be catered for inside the territory of Iraq. Well how far advanced are the plans for you to meet the needs of the people inside Iraq?
HOWARD: We have a special readiness here in Amman, Jordan in order to move across the border, if needed, if there are people internally displaced or stranded at the border. We have a capacity to go in and help up to 40,000 in Iraq and work with the Iraqi Red Crescent.
CHANCE: All right, Patrick Walker, thank you very much for joining us here today.
Bill, there you have it. Back to you in Kuwait. The situation here in Jordan very much apprehensive about the possibility of a humanitarian crisis, but a lot of people very much hoping that that crisis will not materialize. Back to you.
HEMMER: Matthew Chance, again on the Jordanian-Iraqi border. We will check in with him throughout the day. A lot of concern right now about the flood of refugees that may come. Again, we're waiting to see the -- indeed if that is the case.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 21, 2003 - 06:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Want to head live to Kuwait now and check in with Bill Hemmer. Some frightening moments this morning, the air raid sirens sounded again and there was reason to be worried.
Tell us about it -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Carol, here's the latest information we have. About an hour ago when the air raid sirens went off in Kuwait City yet again today, the second time we've had that since the sun came up this morning. Kuwait information now indicates that Patriot missile batteries were launched, three of them, in northwestern Kuwait knocking this missile from the sky.
I want to add -- urge our viewers to be patient with us at times. The information changes quickly. Sometimes during a developing story like this we like to backtrack a little bit. Last hour, Kuwait government telling us here at CNN that this was an incoming Scud. Want to pull back from that a little bit and just call it a missile at this point. An important distinction based on the range and the ability of these missiles to fly from the north into the south. Nonetheless, though, no reports of injuries. And again, that Patriot missile, we're told, one of the three able to knock that missile from the sky.
Meanwhile, we can talk about POWs right now, Carol. A lot of videotape coming in right now, not only on the Iraqi side of the border, but also, too, on the Kuwaiti side of this conflict. We have videotape that shows dozens of Iraqi soldiers who essentially crossed the line, came into Kuwait, offered their surrender earlier today.
Also there's nighttime video of British Marines working and operating in southern Iraq that clearly show dozens of Iraqi soldiers surrendering essentially, putting down their weapons, putting their arms over their heads and walking away in the direction that British troops command them to.
We're told right now on this night video what you can see quite clearly in some of the hands of these Iraqi soldiers is the leaflets, the pamphlets that have been dropped by U.S. and British troops over the past several months. This is similar, we're told, to what happened during the surrender of many of these Iraqi soldiers in the first Persian Gulf War 12 years ago.
In addition to that, on these leaflets they give specific instructions on how to surrender, what to do with your weapon and the assurances by the U.S. and the British that there is food waiting for you if indeed you choose this course of action. Getting reports of that throughout the day and last night as well.
Want to talk about the oil well fires again. Earlier today when we woke up, we noticed the skies around here were dark and considerably in Kuwait City. Since then, though, they've lightened considerably. There might be a reason for that. You heard Geoffrey Hoon in the House of Commons say there's at least 30 oil well fires burning right now throughout Iraq. We can confirm, at least in southern Iraq right now, four oil refineries were lit earlier today. They say they were lit by retreating Iraqi soldiers. Two have been extinguished by U.S. Marines, one is being worked on right now, said to be under control, a fourth one, though, yet to be extinguished at this point. That may account -- again, it may account for why the skies are lightening yet again here in Kuwait City.
We've talked with our reporters who have canvassed the region. Amazing access with those embedded with the U.S. military.
Want to take you further west in the region right now. Matthew Chance is sitting along the Iraqi-Jordanian border. He's at a refugee camp there. Let's pick things up with Matthew about what he is seeing from his perspective there.
Matthew, hello, good afternoon.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello to you as well, Bill.
And our perspective here on the eastern Jordanian frontier with Iraq, one of people trickling out at this stage from Iraq saying they're simply too frightened to stay inside that country at this time.
You join me here at a very dusty makeshift camp in eastern Jordan, very close to the frontier with Iraq. What we have here are about 450 third country nationals. People from mainly countries like Sudan and Somalia who've been working and studying with their families inside Iraq, living and working inside there, taking this opportunity to come out. What we don't have, at this stage, are any Iraqi refugees coming out of the country at this point.
These third country nationals are being dealt with quite efficiently at this stage by the aid agencies, by the Jordanian authorities. Registered, moved on to buses and taken to the ports and to the airports to be moved back to their home countries.
But the big fear on the minds of everybody here in Jordan and elsewhere who's been planning the relief effort is the possibility of a wide scale humanitarian crisis and an influx of refugees across the border from Iraq.
Well joining me to discuss that very issue is Patrick Howard, who's the Disaster Management Coordinator of the International Federation of the -- of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Thank you very much, Mr. Walker, for being with us.
First of all, why is it that we're seeing, at this stage, only third country nationals and no Iraqi refugees coming across?
PATRICK HOWARD, INT'L. FED. OF RED CROSS: I really don't know. You'll have to ask the Jordanian government why if the border is closed. We have no information of any Iraqis on the other side, but we are ready to receive anybody who is required, who needs shelter inside Jordan.
CHANCE: Well the Jordanians say very clearly they won't turn anybody away who is in humanitarian need. Are they cooperating from your point of view?
HOWARD: I really don't know. This is not my -- my issue is to take care of those people who are seeking asylum in Jordan and who require a place to stay and something to eat and some water to drink. And that's what we're providing, plus some health care.
CHANCE: How real are your concerns and the concerns of other aid workers, as well as the Jordanian authorities, that there will be a massive influx of Iraqi refugees as this war continues?
HOWARD: Well my concern is that at the moment we only have a capacity of 5,000. And we have just recently launched an appeal in order so we can expand our camp to take 25,000. In addition, we have a preparedness in other countries, like Syria, Turkey and Iran, who are also building up. But it takes time because we are now appealing for funds. Everything you see here is bought on credit and has to be reimbursed. So we are prepared and we are hoping to get funds so we can expand and receive anybody who wants to come to Jordan and seek asylum.
CHANCE: Now the United States, among others, has been calling on the Iraqi people not to leave their country, but to buckle down, hunker down and stay there and assuring them that they will be catered for inside the territory of Iraq. Well how far advanced are the plans for you to meet the needs of the people inside Iraq?
HOWARD: We have a special readiness here in Amman, Jordan in order to move across the border, if needed, if there are people internally displaced or stranded at the border. We have a capacity to go in and help up to 40,000 in Iraq and work with the Iraqi Red Crescent.
CHANCE: All right, Patrick Walker, thank you very much for joining us here today.
Bill, there you have it. Back to you in Kuwait. The situation here in Jordan very much apprehensive about the possibility of a humanitarian crisis, but a lot of people very much hoping that that crisis will not materialize. Back to you.
HEMMER: Matthew Chance, again on the Jordanian-Iraqi border. We will check in with him throughout the day. A lot of concern right now about the flood of refugees that may come. Again, we're waiting to see the -- indeed if that is the case.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
