INTERVIEW-Iraqi exodus worries U.N. refugee agency
Source: Reuters
(This is part of a special report on the exodus from Iraq) By Alistair Lyon, Special Correspondent BEIRUT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Around two million Iraqis have fled abroad to escape carnage and sectarian cleansing, imposing strains on neighbouring Syria and Jordan, the main host nations. Nearly half a million more have moved elsewhere in Iraq. United Nations officials describe the exodus as the biggest long-term population movement in the Middle East since the displacement of Palestinians when Israel was created in 1948. Stephane Jaquemet, regional representative of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, tells Reuters about the problem. Q. Why are Iraqis leaving? A. There has been a dramatic increase in the numbers of people being killed. The U.N. figure is 3,000 a month. Q. How many have fled? A. We are in the range of 2 million in neighbouring countries and probably 1.5 to 2 million displaced within Iraq. This includes those who left or were displaced before 2003. Q. Where are they going? A. We estimate at least 1,000 people leave Iraq every day, but it's probably much more than that. Half a million to one million are in Jordan, a similar number are in Syria, probably over 100,000 in Egypt, 20,000-40,000 in Lebanon and 54,000 in Iran, plus an unclear number in Turkey. Q. What does it mean for Jordan? A. During Saddam Hussein's time and immediately after his fall you had relatively rich Iraqis going to Jordan. The newcomers are increasingly poor. They are not contributing to the economy. They are in need of education, medical care, basic money to survive. With the numbers increasing, there is quite a concern on the part of the Jordanian authorities. Q. And for Syria? A. Usually those entering Syria are poorer and there are fewer ways to survive there. It's very difficult to get a job. Syria is cheaper than Jordan, but when they have exhausted their money, they don't know what to do. Unlike most states in the region, Syria has formally recognised there was a need for temporary protection for Iraqis. Q. How easy is it to resettle Iraqi refugees? A. The main countries in the West accepting Iraqis are the United States, Australia, Sweden and Canada. One problem is that it is difficult for some Iraqis to meet the definition of refugees at risk of persecution. The UNHCR considers at the moment, given the level of violence in Iraq, every single Iraqi should be considered a refugee under the extended definition of victims of violence. This is unfortunately not recognised by states in the region, except Syria, and it is not fully recognised by resettlement countries. Q. How many Iraqis get resettled? A. Numbers are extremely low. We will see this year because we understand that most countries want to expand their quotas, but even if this happens I would not expect that number to be more than 5 to 10 percent of the people entering Jordan and Syria. Resettlement is always a solution for a tiny minority. Q. What if the Iraqi exodus continues? A. Might Syria and Jordan close their doors? This is our fear. It's very important that the international community provide more assistance to Iraqis in the neighbouring countries. How many more can Syria and Jordan accept before saying it is too much? How much is the West willing to share the burden? Those are open questions. Q. What is the impact for Europe? A. There is obviously an increase in the number of Iraqis applying for asylum in Europe. The West also has an interest to support the first countries of asylum because otherwise you will have huge migration movements, uncontrolled, with boat people, with all the risks associated with that kind of migration.
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