In the News
In the Iraq war, Christians pushed to the brink
Christian Science Monitor - 11/15/2009
Iraqi Refugees Discover Security Comes at a Price
PBS NewsHour - 11/10/2009
UN to send Iraqi refugees food aid by text message
Reuters - 10/27/2009
Iraqi Refugee Stories
My life is being wasted here."
From
the small city of Kut in the south of Iraq, "Mirah," now 27, was working on
a degree in English at her local university when the U.S.entered Iraq in 2003. Read
Mirah's story.
Background Information on Return of Some Iraqi Refugees
NEW Comprehensive Fact Sheet on Returns – Updated September 2008
For more information:
- Read BBC story on Iraqis in Syria who attempt to return (3/20/08)
- Read Reuters story on interview with High Commisioner Guterres about returns to Iraq (2/19/08)
- Read IRIN story on UNHCR statement on returns to Iraq (2/14/08)
- Read AFP story on Iraqis heading to Syria (2/6/08)
- Read BBC story on those who have not returned to Iraq (1/18/08) (Part 1 of 2)
- Read BBC story on those who have not returned to Iraq (1/18/08) (Part 2 of 2)
- Read IRIN story on reasons for Iraqi refugee returns (1/13/08)
- Read AP story on visa restrictions (1/9/08)
- Read Red Crescent story on how many refugees have actually returned to Iraq (1/8/07)
- Read U.S. News & World Report piece on pressures to return (1/2/08)
- Read BBC News story on UN’s warnings against large-scale Iraqi refugee returns (12/8/07)
- Read International Organization for Migration’s update on challenges faced by returning Iraqi refugees (12/7/07)
- Listen to NPR story on refugee returns (12/4/07)
- Read AP story on challenges faced by returning refugees (11/29/07)
- Read briefing by Amb. James Foley (Department of State) and Lori Scialabba (Department of Homeland Security) following their trip to the region (11/29/07)
- UNHCR Statistics on Displaced Iraqis around the World (9/07)
December 6, 2007 -- In recent weeks, the Iraqi government has offered cash incentives and organized bus and plane rides to Baghdad to encourage some Iraqi refugees to return to their country from Syria. More than 2.2 million Iraqis have fled the country, and another 2.2 million are displaced within Iraq.
Estimates of how many refugees have actually returned have varied widely. The Iraqi government’s own estimate -- 60,000 in October and November -- reportedly included all Iraqis who crossed the border, whether or not they were refugees or traveling for other reasons. The Iraqi Red Crescent, which provides aid to the internally displaced, has estimated the number of returnees is only 25,000. (Ed. Note: See updated estimates from Red Crescent here.) The UN refugee agency (UN High Commissioner for Refugees) estimates that around 600 refugees left Syria each day last week.
UN Refugee Agency and U.S. Warn Against Returns
UNHCR has warned against efforts to encourage returns and noted that “there is no sign of any large-scale return to Iraq as the security situation in many parts of the country remains volatile and unpredictable.” Senior members of Gen. David Petraeus’ staff have also cautioned that the Iraqi government has no capacity to assist returning refugees and that their presence could undermine security. In fact, even the Iraqi government itself now seems to have reversed course. Earlier this week, Iraqi Migration Minister Abdul-Samad Rahman said, “In reality, the ministry cannot absorb a return on that [large] scale. If the influx is huge, then neither the ministry nor the entire government can handle it.” (See December 4 Associated Press article.)
Most Iraqis who are returning home do so despite continuing fears for their safety, according to a recent survey of refugees. UNHCR interviews with some of the returning refugees revealed that only a small percentage (14% of those surveyed) were returning because they believe security had improved. The vast majority (70%) of the refugees were returning to Iraq because of new visa requirements in Syria or because they can no longer afford to stay in Syria (refugees are not allowed to work so cannot earn money to feed and house their families).
Needs of Refugees Likely to Increase
More than 4 million Iraqis have fled from their homes – 2.2 million have left the country and more than 2.2 million more are displaced within Iraq. Of the 2.2 million who have fled Iraq, about 1.4 million are in Syria and about 500,000 are in Jordan.
Meanwhile, as Iraqi refugees deplete their remaining savings and are not allowed to work, they cannot feed and house their families. The situation is so grave that some have taken the risk of returning back to Iraq. After a recent trip to the region, James Foley, the State Department’s new Senior Coordinator on Iraqi Refugee Issues, noted that the “the needs of refugees will be increasing substantially in the period to come, as will therefore the requirement for international assistance.” The need for resettlement of Iraqi refugees is also expected to continue to grow.
