The Iraq Refugee Crisis
"Iraq is the freest country in the world, but since freedom without order and without law is tantamount to chaos, it is also the most dangerous." - Mario Vargas Llosa.
Iraq has been turned into the world's most dangerous death-trap. In response, there has been massive flight within the professional and educated classes, the people whose resources and skills are crucial to the Country's survival. Because of their higher levels of education and exposure these groups are less prone to sectarianism and violence. Unfortunately many of them are now in Syria, with many more hot on their heels. This is an under-reported part of the Iraq story, but it is a looming humanitarian crisis nonetheless.
Current UN Iraqi Refugee estimates:
Syria: 1.2 million Iraqi refugees.
Jordan: 750,000 Iraqi refugees
Egypt: 100,000 Iraqi refugees
Iran: 54,000 Iraqi refugees
Lebanon: 40,000 Iraqi refugees
Turkey: 10,000 Iraqi refugees
The total is over two million. The number of displaced Iraqis still inside Iraq’s borders was given as 1.9 million. So, in a nation of 28 million people, four million have been forced to flee their homes in this ill-conceived war. Half of these are homeless in their own land, while the other half have fled Iraq.
And how many of these poor destitute souls have been granted refuge here in the states? About 500. That's it.
Ok, America is a long way off way; but surely coalition leaders have worked with regional leaders to provide some subsistence arrangements for Iraq's growing number of war refugees. Fat chance. Two of our wealthiest allies in the region – Kuwait and Saudi Arabia – have slammed shut their doors to fleeing Iraqis. Rather than providing financial support for the refugees, for example, Saudi Arabia is spending $7 billion to build a fence along the border with Iraq.
Bush and Blair, as the aggressors in starting the war, should lead by example and take some, if not most, of the responsibility for assisting the war’s refugees — a burden they have predictably ignored up to now. How long will the neighboring countries put up with this situation? Mass refugees, after all, represent the mother of all unfunded mandates. Our leaders need to step up to the plate and work a lot harder to reduce the civilian pain and suffering resulting from our conflict. That's the kind of Iraq spending I would vote for-- what a good way to start over in the project for hearts and minds.
At least get the electricity back on.
Read more: The Flight From Iraq
Desperate Iraqi refugees turn to sex trade in Syria
No end in sight: read Deadly Day of Violence Wracks Much of Iraq
Be seeing you...
"Iraq's Desperate Exodus," New York Times, April 22, 2007.
"A Grisly Problem, Grateful Iraqis and a Grim Outlook," Washington Post, April 25, 2007