The report discusses the reasons refugees are leaving Iraq: getting caught in fighting between US and Iraqi forces and insurgents (200,000 refugees arrived after the fall of Fallujah in 2004); fleeing sectarian violence; fleeing crime, violence and the impossibility of making a livelihood generally; and being in need of medical services that are no longer available in Iraq. The report describes the ways in which refugees travel to Syria, and their living conditions there. It points out that while many Iraqis arrive with some resources and skills, and can count on support from relatives across the border, many of them are running out of money (and turning to child labour and prostitution) and that their numbers may yet continue to swell dramatically.
The Syrian goverment, for all its (countless, enormous) faults, has been by far the most generous host to Iraqi refugees, letting them in easily and giving them access to state health care and education. The Syrian government has been much more generous than, say, the American government, which has given refugee status to about 800 Iraqis since 2003. But we just passed legislation that will allow us to resettle “nearly 7,000.” So we’re doing our bit.
Right, like the US is going to book 200,000 Iraqis on 8,000 mile plane flights.
[…] to increase the aid to Iraqi refugees to $290 million. Remember that, as we noted recently in a post on a recent Brooking report on Iraq’s refugee crisis, the US has given refugee status to only about 800 Iraqis since 2003, although new legislation will […]