KUWAIT: Iraqi asylum-seekers faced with the perils of US-led military action and a final reign of terror by President Saddam Hussein are being turned away by Kuwait as they look for refuge from their southern neighbour, reports Jack Fairweather, in Kuwait
Desperate Iraqis are making the short journey by sea - since the border with Kuwait is closed - only to be told they are not welcome.
Last week five Iraqi boats were stopped from landing in Kuwait and the occupants handed over to the Iraqi coastguard, and the Kuwaiti government has begun a campaign warning against the dangers of "Iraqi infiltrators".
A government official said: "We are aware of the humanitarian crisis which war would bring and have made provisions to supply food and shelter in southern Iraq. But Kuwait is a small country and we would encourage them to go to other countries before they come to us."
Refugee camps are being prepared in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and US military officials have said a relief effort will follow any ground invasion initiated in southern Iraq.
But with 2.5 million refugees expected in the event of war, there are concerns that the current trickle of Iraqis trying to enter Kuwait may turn into a flood that the country is ill-prepared to face.
A western aid worker said, "If war breaks out refugees are not going to have a choice of where they go. Every country must open its borders to take care of the needy. I'm sure the Kuwaiti government will change its stance once faced by the reality of the situation."
One such Iraqi who was left with no choice but to come to Kuwait is Abdul - who did not want to give his full name. Two months ago he and his family fled from local Ba'ath party activists into Iran but was told by the authorities to leave.
He was forced to make the clandestine boat journey to Kuwait, where he was sheltered by relatives. He then tried to travel on a false passport to Germany but was detained at the airport. Kuwait has since threatened to send him back to Iran, from where he fears he will have to return to Iraq. He now lives a semi-fugitive existence, prepared to go into hiding should he not be granted asylum.
"These past two months have been the most terrible for me and my family. It is like a death sentence hanging over me. Kuwaitis believe I am here to work illegally. They do not understand that I am here to save my life. If I return to Iraq I will be killed," Abdul said.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Justice declined to comment on Abdul's case, saying it was one of a number being considered.
But such bureaucracy does not bode well for Abdul and many others like him, who will be arriving in the coming weeks.
"I only hope," Abdul said, "that war begins so that Kuwaitis will have to think differently about us and realise the suffering we are going through."