07/25/2007

We, the under-signed, would like to take the opportunity of the upcoming July 26th regional conference in Amman, Jordan, to express our urgent concern about the magnitude of the humanitarian and refugee crisis involving Iraqi refugees and the dangerous lack of adequate resources provided by the international community to countries hosting Iraqi refugees. We welcome the government of Iraq’s initiative to convene a regional meeting in Jordan to discuss host countries’ needs and Iraq’s involvement in the refugee crisis. Iraq, the US and the Arab league must do more to ensure that refugees receive the protection and assistance they deserve. Without decisive leadership, the health and lives of thousands of refugees and the stability of the region are at risk.

Funding for the United Nations and non-governmental organizations is a positive step in the right direction. However, we believe that substantial, bilateral aid to countries hosting Iraqi refugees is an indispensable tool to address this crisis at this time. At this time, bilateral aid is not being provided to countries that host Iraqi refugees in any significant way. This must change if the Iraqi refugee crisis is to be responded to in a serious fashion.

Iraq itself must take a proactive role in contributing to the basic needs of its citizens who have fled violence at home. Despite the effects of the war, Iraq continues to be a resource-rich country, and should use those resources to help refugees living in Syria and Jordan, as well as other host countries. At the Geneva conference on displaced Iraqis held by UNHCR in April 2007, Iraq pledged 25 million dollars to assist the region. It is essential that this pledge be honored immediately, and that Iraq work with host governments to devise plans of continued assistance on a larger scale.

Bilateral assistance to the governments of Jordan and Syria, as well as to other countries hosting Iraqis, should also be the top priority of the international community. We call on the US to provide international leadership to encourage donors to join in this effort. It could lead by example by increasing its assistance to Jordan, and expanding it to other countries in the region that are hosting Iraqis. Other Western governments, and especially countries that have participated in the Iraq war such as Great Britain, Australia, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Japan, have been unacceptably detached from the refugee crisis, and have an obligation to respond with bilateral assistance to host countries. Arab governments, especially US allies in the Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, should also respond, as the situation in their region will only deteriorate without this help. Moreover, the European Union should be encouraged to play a vital role in addressing this humanitarian crisis and helping to stabilize the region.

We express our hope that the July 26th conference will be a first step to providing the resources that are needed to the Iraqi refugee crisis. As humanitarian and refugee protection agencies, we will continue working with and for displaced Iraqis. Our response should however only be a part of a comprehensive international strategy to respond to Iraq’s humanitarian needs and preserve stability in the region. The humanitarian crisis is enormous; the international response should be immediate and extensive. Inadequate action could have dire humanitarian and political consequences.

Sincerely,

American Friends Service Committee
United States of America

American Refugee Committee
United States of America

AmeriCares
United States of America

Arab American and Chaldean Council
United States of America

Belgian Committee for Refugee Assistance (Comité Belge d’Aide aux Réfugies)
Belgium

Church of the Brethren Witness/ Washington Office
United States of America

Church World Service
United States of America

Education for Peace in Iraq Center
United States of America

Episcopal Migration Ministries
United States of America

Flemish Refugee Action
Belgium

Frontiers Ruwad Association
Lebanon

Greek Council for Refugees
Greece

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
United States of America

Human Rights First
United States of America

International Blue Crescent
Turkey

International Rescue Committee
United States of America

Italian Council for Refugees (CIR) (Consiglio Italiano per i Rifugiati)
Italy

Jubilee Campaign USA
United States of America

Jubilee Campaign Netherlands
Netherlands

Kurdish Human Rights Watch
United States of America

Lutheran Immigration andRefugee Service
United States of America

Mandaean Associations Union Refugee Service
United States of America

Mandaean Human Rights Group
United States of America

Norwegian Refugee Council
Norway

Open Society Policy Center
United States of America

Refugee Council of Australia
Australia

Refugee Legal Centre
United Kingdom

Refugee Studies Centre, Oxford University
United Kingdom

Refugees International
United States of America

Relief International
United States of America

Swedish Organization for Individual Relief
Sweden

The Center for Victims of Torture
United States of America

The Iraq Foundation
United States of America

3D Security Initiative
United States of America

US Committee for Refugees Women and Immigrants
United States of America

Women’s Commission for Refugee and Children
United States of America