The continuing internal conflict and violence in Iraq has resulted in the exodus of large number of refugees into neighboring countries. Thousands of Iraqis flee their country each day and enter Syria and Jordan, which they find more receptive than other countries in the region.
Jordan is already hosting an Iraqi refugee population of about 500,000 and has been trying to discourage new arrivals by stopping renewal of residency permits of those who are already in its territory.
Almost 40% of Iraq’s middle class population has fled to nearby countries. An equal number of people are displaced within Iraq and live in tents.
Jordan’s restrictions have made Syria the leading destination for refugees. According to UN sources around 2,000 Iraqi refugees enter Syria every day and more than 1.2 million refugees live in this country at present. The refugees find Syria particularly inviting, as Syria does not require entry visas from Arabs.
Syria is overwhelmed by the refugees, most of whom live in slums in Damascus, the capital. There are many in Aleppo. Abdelhamid Ouali, the representative for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Syria, says ‘we cannot continue like this. The situation is terrible, and we are obliged to do something.’
The living conditions of refugees in the host countries are grave and they fast deteriorate further. Providing basic minimum amenities is an enormous burden on the host countries that have very limited resources to meet the needs of the large refugee populations.
Women and children make up a large proportion of the refugees. It is just impossible to make education available to these children in make-shift camps and slums. Health services are hard to find.
Peter Kessler, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, says in Syria and Jordan there are at least half a million Iraqi children who have even more pressing needs than the adults. ‘Just think of how many schools those kids need, how many pencils and books, how much health care, inoculations, treatment for disease’, Kessler said.
The problem is compounded by fears of militancy infecting the local populations in the host countries. Syria has a predominantly Sunni Arab majority, but its ruling elite comes from the minority Shiite Alawite community. The influx of Sunni Arab refugees from Iraq in large numbers has the potential of destabilizing the regime.
In spite of all these problems, there is a striking silence on the part of the coalition countries that have their forces in Iraq in matters relating to the refugees. They are more concerned of Arab insurgents entering Iraq from the neighbouring countries than the Iraqis who flee their homes in the face of violence.
Refugees International spokeswoman Kristele Younes has said ‘the acceleration in the numbers fleeing Iraq meant it could soon overtake the refugee crisis in Darfur. It’s quickly becoming the largest refugee crisis. The numbers are very, very scary.’
Kenneth Bacon, the organisation’s president said ‘the United States and its allies sparked the current chaos in Iraq, but they are doing little to ease the humanitarian crisis caused by the current exodus.’
The UNHCR is planning to hold a conference in Geneva next month to call on the nations of the world to help manage the Iraqi refugee crisis.
Iraq’s neighbours have showed great generosity in permitting significantly large numbers of refugees to enter and remain in their countries, said a spokeswoman.
