By NNN-KUNA
Geneva : The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugeees (UNHCR) has announced that the Syrian government is imposing new visa requirements on all Iraqis wishing to enter Syria — with the exception of certain professional categories.
According to UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond on Tuesday, Iraqis are required from Monday to apply for a visa at the Syrian embassy in Baghdad.
“The regulations effectively mean there is no longer a safe place outside for Iraqis fleeing persecution and violence. An estimated 2,000 Iraqis flee their homes daily inside the country, so we are increasingly concerned about their fate as their options for safety are reduced,” he said.
Redmond said that the exact details of the new visa regime still have to be published by the Syrian government.
The UNHCR, he added, is actively advocating for a ‘humanitarian’ visa for people who are fleeing violence and persecution.