Iraq Refugees: The Hidden Face of the War

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/04/19/622/

Iraq Refugees: The Hidden Face of the War
by Khody Akhavi



GENEVA - The United Nations was able, at least for a few hours, to draw public attention away from the bombings and attacks that have become routine in Iraq and direct it towards another, equally painful, aspect of the conflict — the humanitarian crisis suffered by nearly four million refugees and internally displaced persons.The U.N. effort to highlight the drastic conditions faced by Iraqi refugees was only relatively successful, however, as Wednesday, the second day of its two-day conference on their humanitarian needs, was one of the bloodiest days in Iraq since the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion.0419 02

Media reports indicated that an estimated 170 people were killed by four bombs Wednesday in Iraq, where an average of 100 civilians were killed daily in 2006, according to figures from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said the international community has now taken note of the gravity of the crisis and has committed itself to protecting and assisting Iraqis displaced by the violence and to sharing the burden of that effort.

The Apr. 17-18 conference in Geneva drew 450 delegates from more than 60 nations, including members of civil society organisations.

However, there are no plans to move some two million Iraqi refugees, most of whom are in countries bordering Iraq. For example, more than one million have fled across the border to Syria and around 750,000 to Jordan.

Industrialised nations ruled out the possibility of taking in groups of Iraqi asylum seekers, and merely expressed a willingness to provide financial support for Syria and Jordan.

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