President Obama’s speech on U.S. policy in Iraq Friday was significant for two reasons.  First, he announced that “by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end” and that “I intend to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.”  Second, he said that the U.S. will work with Iraq and other countries in the region “to help the millions of displaced Iraqis.”

He told the Marines at Camp LeJeune, N.C. that “these men, women, and children are a living consequence of this war and a challenge to stability in the region, and they must become part of Iraq’s reconciliation and recovery.  America has a strategic interest –and a moral responsibility—to act.  In the coming months, my administration will provide more assistance and take steps to increase international support for countries already hosting refugees: we’ll cooperate with others to resettle Iraqis facing great personal risk; and we will work with the Iraqi government over time to resettle refugees and displaced Iraqis within Iraq—because there are few more powerful indicators of lasting peace than displaced citizens returning home.”

The president’s pledge is a hugely important and welcome development.  For more than two years, Refugees International and other groups have been urging the U.S. to adopt a comprehensive response to the massive displacement of Iraqis triggered by an outbreak of sectarian violence in early 2006.  The first part of the campaign was to secure an increase in the number of vulnerable Iraqis who could resettle in the U.S.  Over three years, the resettlement number has risen from 202 to a target of 17,000 this year.  Many of the resettled Iraqis risked their lives to help support U.S. troops, diplomats and contractors in Iraq.  Good efforts by the State Department, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and his staff and others in Congress helped get the increase the resettlement numbers.

Another important part of a comprehensive response to Iraqi displacement was to increase aid to neighboring countries, primarily Syria, Jordan and Egypt, who say they are hosting nearly two million Iraqi refugees, many of whom are sliding into poverty.  With increased aid from the U.S., the United Nations and private humanitarian agencies have been able to increase food and other assistance to Iraqi refugees.  A U.S. program helped build schools in Jordan to improve educational opportunities for refugee children.

The next challenge is to convince the UN, the U.S. and the government of Iraq to work more closely together to create conditions for safe return.  Some 2.6 million Iraqis are displaced within their own country, on top of as many as 2 million refugees.  This population is too large to be resettled or absorbed by other countries; the only reasonable solution is for them to return to Iraq.  In fact, Iraq needs them back.  Many of the refugees are professionals—lawyers, engineers, doctors and teachers—who are needed to help rebuild their own country. 

In a week, two colleagues and I are going to Iraq to talk to displaced Iraqis about what changes—property return or restitution, a stronger social safety net, jobs, schools and other infrastructure improvements--they require for safe return.  We will meet with U.S., international and Iraqi officials in an effort to figure out how best to achieve conditions that require safe return.  One key factor will be the attitude the Shi’a dominated government takes toward refugees, a majority of whom are Sunni.  Refugees need to know that their homeland wants them back and that they can live there safely under rule of law.

-- Ken Bacon
President, Refugees International

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