UNHCR Asks for $261 Million to Help Iraqi Refugees

We’re a few days late on this news, but it’s gotten limited media coverage this week – on January 8, the UNHCR announced an appeal to donors for $261 million for Iraqi refugee programs for 2008. The Iraq Situation Supplementary Appeal covers UNHCR operations and health, education, and direct assistance programs for the 2.2 million Iraqi refugees in the region as well as the 2 million IDPs in Iraq. Last year’s UNHCR appeal garnered $152 million for its programs assisting Iraqi refugees and IDPs – so their need increased more than $100 million for the upcoming year.

Unfortunately, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Amb. James Foley, the State Department’s Senior Coordinator on Iraqi Refugee Issues, said in November, “. . . the needs of [Iraqi] refugees will be increasing substantially in the period to come, as will therefore the requirement for international assistance. The bottom line [is] that this unique urban refugee population, which is quite different from refugee populations elsewhere in the world because it’s urban, will be facing increased hardship as the means and the savings that they brought with them from Iraq are depleted over time.”

The UN refugee agency’s press release notes that of the approximately 21,000 Iraqi refugee resettlement cases it referred for consideration to host countries, only 4,500 Iraqis had actually been resettled as of early December. The number resettled in the U.S. in 2007 was just 2,631.

We hope to see the U.S. government lead the way by contributing generously to this year’s UNHCR appeal. It’s the least we can do to assist the 4 million-plus refugees whose lives have been upended as a result of the war in Iraq.

Arab States League Launches Fundraising Campaign

Tomorrow, the League of Arab States will launch a major 90-day fundraising and public awareness campaign to help Iraqi refugees in the region. They’re working closely with the UNHCR and other organizations – click here for the UNHCR’s press release – and say they hope to raise consciousness and money to contribute to the massive need. It’s good news because the League, with 22 member states, has thus far been MIA on the issue. It also presents a great opportunity for President Bush to address the issue with leaders of member states in the region during his current trip through the Mideast.

A bonus – the League is partnering on this campaign with Arab Iraqi musician Naseer Shamma - one of the world’s most esteemed oud players.