The Chaldean Federation of America Consults to United Nations’ Worldwide Conference on Refugee Rights in Geneva, Switzerland

October 10th, 2006

On September 27 – October 5, 2006, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) invited the Chaldean Federation of America (CFA) to participate in the UNHCR Annual Consultation with other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) on issues of refugee rights worldwide.
As a result of CFA’s effective advocacy, the US Department of State and UNHCR agreed to advance the humanitarian relief and resettlement of Iraqi Christian refugees. “They have agreed to start processing 150 most vulnerable cases for resettlement to start” said Joseph T. Kassab, Executive Director, CFA. This conference also provided the CFA with an opportunity to acknowledge more than 30 nations of the world that are hosting the fleeing Iraqi Christians, including Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Turkey.
Through the CFA’s dynamic exposure of escalating targeted violence against Iraqi Christians, this humanitarian crisis became the centerpiece for dialogues with the conference attendees, including the United States Department of State and UNHCR leadership. “The CFA is trying to find solutions to alleviate the suffering of Christian Iraqi’s and to help them find a country they can call home,” said Mr. Kassab.
This international conference drew over 1,000 diplomats, government officials and non-governmental representatives to the week-long deliberations in Geneva, Switzerland. The CFA delegation succeeded in bringing the plight of the more than 80,000 Iraqi Christian refugees to the attention of this distinguished world forum through its detailed research reports, Operation R-4 (Research, Rescue, Relief and Resettlement).
Mr. Kassab headed the CFA delegation joined by Mr. Salem Poles, a representative of the Arab American and Chaldean Council to the CFA Immigration and Refugee Committee. The delegation also included Monsignor Francois Yakan, Vicar General of the Chaldean Patriarchate in Turkey and Dr. Gerald Bidawid, Vice President of the Chaldo-Assyrian Humanitarian and Cultural Association of Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Europe. The cause of the Iraqi Christians was significantly advanced through this important international linkage.