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MAZLUMDER: Iraq invasion creates 4 mln refugees
The report also indicates that due to the situation in Iraq at least 4 million people have been displaced and became the second-largest refugee group after the Palestinians. According to the report, 2 million Iraqis became internally displaced persons (IDP) while some 2 million fled the country -- 1.5 million to Syria and 700,000 to Jordan.
“A very large segment of refugees are unable to return to their homes. They are spread over several countries currently, staying there temporarily. They face many problems, especially in the fields of education, health and participating in economic life. Because the Iraqi government is unable to ensure the safety of its citizens, few of those who fled have returned. Only one-third of the returnees have come back to their former homes; the rest are displaced,” the report underlined.
According to the report, most of the returnees have not been paid the $1,000 promised them by the government. Furthermore, upon their return they have found their property looted, occupied or ruined, leading other displaced Iraqis to delay any return plans, the report suggested.
Another point underlined in the report is the situation of the Palestinians who were living in Iraq before the war but were forced to leave the country. Those Palestinians were not taken in by nearby countries, leaving some 3,000 Palestinian refugees stranded between the Syria-Iraq border.
MAZLUM-DER underlines that the presence of Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan on the one hand contributes to these countries but that it is also a burden, leading to the refugees being “unwanted” over time. The association recalls that Jordan closed its doors to the refugees in 2007 and that Syria is about to do the same.
“International aid is inadequate and far from being able to reveal the burden being placed on Syria and Jordan,” the report said, underlining that a well-designed international aid program is needed but that any program must not have the ability to interfere in the inner politics of Jordan and Syria.
MAZLUM-DER indicates that the occupying forces, including the US and Britain, should act to solve this problem because they are responsible for this humanitarian tragedy.
“This problem is also the common problem of all components of Iraqi society and government and needs to be solved with the joint effort of all groups in the country,” the report said.
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