PLANS to repatriate Iraqis living in Wearside should be shelved while the country remains engulfed in violence, a former citizen claims.
It comes just days after David Blunkett started drawing up plans to repatriate as many as 40,000 Iraqis from the UK.
Majeed Abid Ali Abas, 40, who has spent the past few years helping Iraqi asylum seekers settle in the city, says the move is "too m
uch, too soon".
He added: "The situation in Iraq is not improving so it does not seem right that people should be sent back there while this danger remains.
"It is not the right time, there is still massive unemployment and those returning could just find themselves getting involved with the military."
The Home Secretary has ordered a survey of the Iraqi expatriate community to look into the possibility of compulsory return following the June handover by the American-led administration.
Mr Abas, who keeps in regular touch with his family who still live in Baghdad, says they have suffered great hardship over recent months.
His sister, Athra, worked as a qualified engineer for many years but since the war she has lost her job.
He added: "I think most of the Iraqi people would welcome repatriation - but only at the right time.
"I would be very surprised if the Americans manage to keep the handover date of June, it seems very early considering we are still seeing massive violence every day on the news.
"The situation doesn't seem to be getting any better and until it does we should not really consider sending people back."
Refugee agencies have already expressed concerns about Iraq's ability to cope with a mass return of refugees under the present conditions.
