THE ASSYRIANS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18920, 23 January 1936, Page 13

THE ASSYRIANS

SETTLEMENT IN SYRIA IRRIGATION WORK , LONDON. Dec 28. The League of Nations' plan for settling the Assyrians of Iraq in the Plain of the Ohab/in Syria, is going steadily forward. The exact, number who will wish to leave Iraq —possibly more than 20,000, in. addition to the 6000 who have already been moved—is now being ascertained by direct, consultation. The Assyrians have* been refugees since the war. After various hom;s had been sought in vain for them. France offered them a settlement in the Ohab region of Syria. .Meanwhile, the preparatory work on the engineering plan necessary (o put the (.»hab into condition for settlement and cultivation lias already begun. This plan involves, in the first place, the construe lion of a barrage across the Orontes at the upper end of the Ohab, which will serve to prevent flooding in the wet season, and at the same time store up a water reserve for use by irrigation in the dry season. The plan also provides for straightening and deepening the river channel over 18 miles, the construction ot a vast network of drainage and irrigation canals, and the tunnelling of 900 metre*! of basalt- rock to provide an additional outlet for the river at the lower end of the plain. Fifteen thousand hectares of very fertile soil and a large stretch of upland and mountain will be put. at the disposal of the Assyrians when the whole construction is completed in about, four years' time. Great interest, has been shown in many quarters in this work of humanity and appeasement, whereby the, Assyrian Christians; will at last be given new hope for the future, and a contribution will be made to the tranquility of the Near Fast. To the financing of the project. the French mandatory Government, the British and Iraq Governments, and the League of Nations have offered substantial contributions. There still remains, however, approximately between £150,000 and ,£2CO,OCO to be raised,, which it is liopcd will, in a considerable measure, be. taken up by charitable organisations, and. in particular, by the Christian Churches in the West, which have long been concerned in the welfare, of thi". ancient Christian people. At its private meeting last week, the Council 1 of the League created a, Trustee Board of three members, to supervise the settlement on the. Ghab plain. Beirut, on the Syrian coast, will probably be the headquarters of the board.