Page 2 of
2 The Iraqi refugee
crisis By Kristele Younes
fleeing the bombings during
the recent Israel-Lebanon conflict. But Syria's
resources are stretched thin.
Before 2005,
Iraqis had access to the same public services as
Syrians. In the face of the growing Iraqi
population, Syria started imposing restrictions on
Iraqi refugees; it now charges for health care
that used to be free. Similarly, until recently
Iraqis were issued six-month visas. Recent policy
changes now limit Iraqis to
a
three-month visa, and force them to undertake
expensive trips to exit the country and renew
their visas.
In Lebanon and Jordan, the
situation is even more difficult. Both countries
are now showing a diminishing tolerance for the
Iraqi presence. In Lebanon, which hosts about
40,000 Iraqis, refugees are increasingly arrested
for illegal presence, imprisoned and forced to
choose between remaining in prison and being
deported. While Lebanon has closed its borders
to Iraqis entirely, Jordan continues to let Iraqis
in, albeit selectively. Unlike in Syria, Iraqis
have to pay for all services and live in constant
fear of deportation. The Jordanian government,
concerned about the risk of instability, has shut
its border to young men, forcing families to
separate.
Visas are issued on a sporadic
basis, and while many Iraqis report receiving a
standard three-month visa, there are growing
reports, many documented by Refugees
International, that border officials are issuing
transit visas - many as short as two days - to
Iraqis. As a result, Iraqis are quickly falling
out of status and are subject to potential
deportation.
The UN
response Dramatically short of funds and
staff in all three countries, the UNHCR 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. The fact that Lebanon, Syria and Jordan
are not parties to the 1951 Refugees Convention
further reduces UNHCR's ability to protect
refugees.
Studies conducted by the UN and
international agencies in Lebanon and Syria have
shown that vulnerable Iraqis in both countries are
in dire need of assistance. Although there is no
official study for Jordan yet, needs documented by
Refugees International are similar. As outlined
above, access to health care and education is a
major issue, as are mental-health and
legal-assistance needs.
UNHCR's budget in
Syria for Iraqis in 2006 was just US$700,000, less
than $1 per refugee. UNHCR needs resources to help
Iraqi refugees, but it also needs food, medicine
and other help from other UN agencies. UNHCR is
the only UN agency assisting Iraqis in Lebanon and
Jordan, while the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF) and other agencies voice interest but
provide little support in Syria. Given the growing
impact of this crisis, UNHCR, as the lead agency
for refugees, needs the technical support and
expertise of its sister agencies.
US
response While many diplomatic missions in
both Syria and Jordan are now concerned by the
increasing numbers of Iraqis seeking shelter, they
feel that the United States, given its role in
Iraq, should lead humanitarian efforts in the
surrounding countries. However, Washington has
responded minimally to the refugee flow.
The Department of State recently announced
that it is contributing $18 million toward the $60
million that the UNHCR is asking for this year to
protect 2 million Iraqi refugees. In addition, the
US announced that it would consider accepting up
to 7,000 Iraqi refugees referred to it by UNHCR.
It also issued a request for proposals to
provide humanitarian services to Iraqi refugees in
Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, countries hosting large
numbers of Iraqis. Officials also announced that
the US Agency for International Development is
providing funds to assist some of the 1.8 million
internally displaced Iraqis.
But it is
very likely that UNHCR will need more than $60
million to assist displaced Iraqis this year, and
that the US should fund at least 50% of the total.
Traditionally, the US funds 25% of UNHCR's
programs. Officials made it clear that they would
provide at least 25% of what UNHCR is seeking. In
addition, the US has the capacity to resettle many
more than the 7,000 Iraqis it agreed to this year.
The US has a moral obligation to resettle Iraqis
who were put at risk because of their support for
the occupation.
The United States must
begin by acknowledging that violence in Iraq has
made civilian life untenable, creating a refugee
crisis that is in essence exporting the nation's
instability to neighboring countries. To deal with
this crisis, the following steps should be taken:
The US and international community must
acknowledge the scope of the crisis and provide
assistance directly or indirectly to regional
governments to help them absorb refugees and keep
their borders open.
Given its central role in Iraq, the US should
lead an international initiative to support Middle
Eastern countries hosting Iraqi civilians. It
should recognize and support the constructive role
Syria is playing in hosting Iraqi refugees and
help it keep its borders open.
Western countries, including the US, must
agree to resettle particularly vulnerable groups,
such as the Palestinians, without prejudice to
their right to return to their country as
recognized under international law.
International donors must increase
substantially their support to UNHCR and fully
meet their appeal for 2007, and other UN agencies
must participate in the relief efforts for Iraqi
refugees.
The UN should help create a regional
burden-sharing plan that includes all countries
neighboring Iraq.
Nations hosting Iraqi refugees should
recognize their needs, and work proactively with
an increase in the capacity of national health,
education and housing systems to provide adequate
services for Iraqi refugees, including plans for
international support for these services.
Kristele Younes is an advocate
at Refugees International and an analyst for
Foreign Policy In Focus. She completed a
three-week assessment mission to Lebanon, Syria
and Jordan last November.
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