Iraq: The world's fastest growing refugee crisis

[rainbow4321]

http://electroniciraq.net/news/2686.shtml

The UN estimates that 2.3 million Iraqis have fled violence in their country; 1.8 million have fled to surrounding countries, mainly Jordan and Syria, while some 500,000 have vacated their homes for safer areas within Iraq. An estimated 40,000 people are leaving Iraq every month for Syria alone, while other countries through out the Middle East, including Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran and Turkey are also seeing increased flows. Most Iraqis are determined to be resettled to Europe or North America, and few consider return to Iraq an option. With no legal work options in their current host countries, Iraqis are already exploring the use of false documents to migrate to Western nations.

"Iraqis who are unable to flee the country are now in a queue, waiting their turn to die," is how one Iraqi journalist summarizes conditions in Iraq today. While the US debates whether a civil war is raging in Iraq, thousands of Iraqis face the possibility of death every day all over the country. Refugees International met with dozens of Iraqis who have fled the violence and sought refuge in neighboring countries. All of them, whether Sunni, Shi'a, Christian or Palestinian, had been directly victimized by armed actors. People are targeted because of religious affiliation, economic status, or practicing professions that are viewed as being "anti-Islamic," including those of doctors, teachers, and even hairdressers. All of them fled Iraq because they had genuine and credible fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Dramatically short of funds and staff in all three countries, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees can't provide adequate protection and assistance to Iraqis. The agency lacks the resources to process refugees' documentation adequately. Without staff to monitor borders, UNHCR depends on national governments for updated information on new arrivals. UNHCR is also unable to provide significant assistance to Iraqis, and receives very little support from other UN agencies that do not seem to acknowledge the extent of the crisis. The fact that Lebanon, Syria and Jordan are not state parties to the 1951 Refugees Convention further reduces UNHCR's ability to protect refugees.

[tpsbmam]

1. Good reminder. K&R nt

[rainbow4321]

2. If any other country's leader caused such a refugee disaster..

we'd have our MSM showing us refugee horror stories 24/7. But because it is chimp, we'll never hear so much as a single news segment.
Look at the number of those displaced...it would be like an entire state's population here in the US having to flee to Mexico/Canada.