Iraq refugee crisis hits "epic proportions"
Blogged by: Emma Batha
An Iraqi boy waits for his mother to collect food aid from a church in the Syrian capital Damascus. March, 2007.
REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri
REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri
Amid the daily media reports of suicide bombings, sectarian violence and troop casualties, Iraqi civilians generally get overlooked.
But today the world will be focussing attention on the nearly 4 million people who have been forced to flee their homes since the U.S.-led invasion.
If the number is hard to imagine, then it's a bit like uprooting the population of Paris - twice.
We're now seeing a "migration crisis of epic proportions", according to the International Rescue Committee, a relief agency which works with refugees.
Around half those who have left their homes are living in Syria and Jordan, which are struggling with the burden - the issue is particularly sensitive in Jordan where Iraqis now make up a fifth of the population. (You can't help wondering how a European country might act in a similar situation.)
There is also major concern about the welfare of the refugees themselves.
One expert I talked to said he believed the situation in Syria had got to the point where women who had invested all their money into getting out of Iraq would be forced to resort to prostitution to provide for their children.
Many women are now head of their households, their husbands and sons having been killed in the violence.
The rest of those who have fled bloodshed in Iraq are displaced internally. Unable to work and often cut off from aid, many are sinking into poverty.
The West hasn't really bothered too much with this side-effect of the war but today they will be pressed to take action at a major United Nations meeting in Geneva.
The IRC says the international community must dramatically increase the number of Iraqi refugees resettled in other countries and that the United States bears a special responsibility in this regard.
Britain too is under fire for not accepting more refugees.
"Because of Britain's involvement in the Iraq conflict, Britain should be playing a leading role in addressing this humanitarian crisis," Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International wrote in a joint letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair ahead of the Geneva meeting.
Refugee experts say Iraq's neighbours are now making it increasingly hard to cross the border. And they are worried some countries could soon close their doors altogether.
Meanwhile, the displacement within Iraq is entrenching ethnic and religious separation. A United Nations action plan set to be presented in Geneva warns that if neighbouring countries close their borders this will increase internal displacement which could accelerate Iraq's "collapse and disintegration".
Although the meeting isn't a donor conference, U.N. officials are hoping it will put pressure on Western countries to provide financial help as well as to accept more refugees.
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For many years Afghanistan has been the world's biggest source of refugees, but experts believe it could very soon be overtaken by Iraq.
The U.N. action plan outlines the humanitarian crisis in detail. Here is a snapshot in numbers.
Displacement
Violence
- 2 million abroad, mostly in Syria and Jordan
- 1.9 million uprooted internally
- 4 million food insecure
- 8 million in urgent need of humanitarian help
Violence
- 100 civilians dying a day on average in early 2007
- 35,000 civilians killed in 2006
- 36,000 injured in 2006
- 2.7 million people living in areas contaminated by mines and unexploded ordinance
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10 responses to “Iraq refugee crisis hits "epic proportions"”
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17 Apr 2007 14:22:01 GMT
Hi I'm Wael from Syria, please excuse me for my bad English. First of all, we are all feeling sorry for the poor Iraqi people who have been forced to flee out of their homeland because of the most stupid war in the history of the humanity, which was made by the hands of the most ignorant man the world has ever known - Bush of course.
It's not the Iraqi people's fault that their country has been ruined, It's either not the Syrian people's fault to bear the heavy burden the Iraqi refugees put on their shoulders, specially those who came with a lot of money with them. They start buying houses and lands, even building their own paying much more money than any Syrian has ever dreamed of. That acts raised the prices of the real estates, food, building materials as cement and iron, house rents and every thing on all domains. Even though there are a lot of Iraqi gangs now in Syria, in Jaramana specially which is a town not very far from Damascus, those gangs have rubbed peaceful houses and stole everything they could, also beaten a lot of the town's young men. and the government couldn't do a lot about it fearing of the world community which sympathized with those refugees and wouldn't believe any thing bad about them. Syrian people now are suffering on their own land more the Iraqis do. So please do a tiny research to show the world how much the Syrian people have suffered from those refugees. thanks a lot for reading this, I wish you could mail me if you decided to understand.17 Apr 2007 14:24:00 GMT
When you wondering how a European country might act in a similar situation you should specify if the refugees were the same cultural/religious/language etc. background or different; ie. a million German refugees in Austria or a million Iranian refugees in Austria.
17 Apr 2007 17:45:00 GMT
Why the U. N. or any one else should be asked to pay for the Iraqi refugees, who are now more than 4 million and spread over Jordan, Syria and Iran. It was the Bush and neocons war and therefore they must be held responsible to pay for their shelters and food no one else.
17 Apr 2007 17:46:30 GMT
Oh what have we done to the world, what have we done to the people of our world. Why can't people behave like human beings to their brothers and sisters.
One child dying of hunger every 8 seconds, that makes war look like childs play. That is our real guilt. Do I speak as a Westerner or as an Eastener. Does it make an atom of diference. I know this, all the crusades in the world NEVER brought justice. All the aid given in the world NEVER brought war.18 Apr 2007 05:47:28 GMT
Makes me want to weep. I 'look' into those sad beautiful eyes and I'm enraged for the criminals who have caused this misery. I can't recall the last time I saw a little child in Iraq smile, or at least not show the horror they've experienced. We're all responsible for these people. We should demand that those with the money - spend it!
It makes people look and sound pretty stupid when they're discussing children being 'spoiled' or 'sexualized' by fashion and the advertising industry. The parents of these little cherubs have huge concerns. I recall hearing an interview with an Iraqi woman prior to the invasion in 2003. She said that the baby she was breastfeeding during the 1991 invasion still can't cope with loud noises. I was weeping by the end of that interview. It's been acknowledged that a million women in Iraq were either breast feeding or pregnant prior to March 2003. I understand that women are having terrible labours and deliveries due to their malnutrition, lack of pain relieving drugs, and the traumatic lives they are living prior to their confinement. Babies are dying because they're born too early or with serious problems. It's a horrific circle of suffering. How will these children be coping 10-15 years from now? How many more are going to die? And who knows how many of the million or so deaths have been children. Who's getting rid of the cluster bombs that have not exploded. Children pick them up thinking they're toys. What kind of evil brain designed these obscenities? Makes you heartsick doesn't it? Heartsick and angry!18 Apr 2007 09:18:56 GMT
Millions of people being uprooted is just the tip of the iceberg. As sectarian violence increases, the likelihood of Iraq splitting in two dramatically increases if peace is ever to return in the region. The two groups are interested in destroying each other AND the United States coalition force.
18 Apr 2007 16:46:37 GMT
"Why the U. N. or any one else should be asked to pay for the Iraqi refugees, who are now more than 4 million and spread over Jordan, Syria and Iran. It was the Bush and neocons war and therefore they must be held responsible to pay for their shelters and food no one else."
I agree with this person. The people who are most responsible for the welfare of the Iraqis who have had to flee their country (and Iraq itself) are the U.S. and Britain. Syria's Assad vehemently pleaded for Bush not to invade Iraq, and he was punished for refusing to play along; as were many good lawyers and professionals in the U.S., replaced by substitutes with little experience and abundance of ideology. The people who pushed so violently for this war in Iraq, bow and arrow, are the ones who do bear most of the burden for the results of their actions, not (just) Syria, the Gulf emirates, and Sweden. It's sad to see how only Sweden really took in large numbers of Iraqi refugees.19 Apr 2007 08:30:33 GMT
Oh, what we hath wrought... and to all those who thought, and continue believing, that this war was 'necessary' are the one's who should shoulder the blame for the chaos this war has created. And Mr. Bush proudly announcing he'sleeps very well,' says so very much. This war is unconscionable. Its results are beyond comprehension. And we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg of catastrophe.
20 Apr 2007 08:28:40 GMT
hello i hope that all ngo,s they well work in syria to help the iraqi refugees food ,helth ext... untile now no ngo,s have the agreement to work in syria must register in syria red crescent. all ngo,s must have permetion. thanks. waleed al mohammed ex logistic officer in ngo,s
25 Apr 2007 15:48:55 GMT
TIPE OF IRAQI REFUGEES HOW LEVE IN SYRIA 1- taxonomy: THE FAMILYS HOW HAD SALE ALL OF HEAR HOUSES VEHICLS FURNITURES SHOPS ANY THING CAN BE SALED SO THEY CAME TO SYRIA TO CONSTANCY AND THEY DIVORCE IRAQ FOR EVER SO THEY HAD NOTHING IN IRAQ SOME OF THEM HAD OPEN SHOP BUY HOUSES TO EXPLOITATION HIS MONY IN SYRIA AND THE OTHER FAMILYS THEY SPEND THE MONY JUST TO EAT NOTHIG ELSE AND THIS KIND OF FAMILYS MABEY WELL SUBSISTENCE FOR NEXT 2008 THEY HAD MONEY BUT WE DON,T NOW WHAT TIME THAT MONY WELL EVENTUATE THEY SPEND FOR PER MONTH 300$ TO 600$. 2- taxonomy: THE FAMILYS HOW HAD SOME OF HEAR RELATIVES IN GULF G.C.C OR IN USA OR IN ANY OTHER COUNTRYS HOW HAD GET HELP FORM DIFFERENT KIND OF ASSISTANTS MONY FOOD AND THEY HAD RENTAL HOUSES HEAR IN SYRIA THE PRICES BEGAN FROM 250$ WITHOUT FURNITURES UNTILE 600$ VERY BIG FLAT THESE PRICES IS THE MOST NUMBER THE SYRIAN PEOPLE WORK ON IT THESE KIND OF FAMILYS THEY HOPE AT ANY TIME THAT WHEN THE IRAQ WILL HAVE VERY STRONG G.O.V THEY WELL HAD CHANCE TO GET BACK THEY STILL HAVE HOPE TO BACK.BUT THIS KIND OF FAMILY THEY CAN,T BUY HOUSES THEY CAN,T MAKE ANY TIPE OF EXPLOIT REVENUE IS NOT ENOUGH TO OPEN ANY KIND OF PROJECTS. 3- taxonomy: THE FAMILYS HOW HAD SOME CONTACTS IN MANY DIFFRANT ASSOCIATION KUWITY OR SUADIAN SO AS ASMALL SOCIETY NO ONE CAN INTER THERE GROP THEY ARE FROM SUNNA RATIONALITY SO NO ONE CAN INTERPENETRATE THEY HAVE BIG BOSS HOW ARE RESPONSPLE ABOUT THEM ITS NOT LEGAL FOR THEM TO STAY AT ANY TOWN IN SYRIA THEY HAVE SPECIAL PLACE TO STAY SO WE HAVE AS AN EXAMPLE 50 FAMILY LIKE THIS TIPE OF FAMILYS (DERAA)TOWN THE BOSS GIVE THEM PER MONTH 300$ THEY HAVE RENTAL FLATS ALSO THIS TIPE OF FAMILYS IF THE SITUATION IN IRAQ WENT NORMAL SO THEY WELL GET BACK. 4- taxonomy: THE FAMILYS HOW CAME TO SYRIA RUNAWAY FROM THE KILLING AND STEALING THIEVERY THEY SPEND ALL OF THERE MONY IN SYRIA AND THEY HAD GO BACK TO IRAQ TO FACE DEATH .
waleed al mohammed ex logistic officer in N.G.O