01/18/2008

Dear Ambassadors,

Refugees International remains deeply concerned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis inside Iraq and in the region. With over two million Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries and 2.4 million displaced within their own country, Iraq is one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises and threatens to undermine regional stability.

Despite its scale, the international response, including that of the United Nations, has been woefully inadequate. As the Security Council meets to discuss UNAMI and its activities inside Iraq, Refugees International would like to underscore the importance of an independent and robust UN response to the humanitarian crisis. In addition, we hope that the Security Council will articulate its expectation that the Government of Iraq will begin to take more responsibility for meeting the needs of the full range of Iraqis in desperate circumstances, including internally displaced people, host communities and refugees in neighboring countries.

When the Security Council approved Resolution 1770, which outlined an expanded role for UNAMI to “promote, support, and facilitate” the coordination and delivery of humanitarian assistance and basic services, there were high expectations that the UN would finally enlarge its presence inside Iraq and begin to respond to the needs of Iraqi civilians. To date, however, the UN has not substantially increased its presence or humanitarian programs in Iraq, and the government of Iraq is not adequately providing necessary assistance and services to the internally displaced. On the contrary, the Public Distribution of Food system has been reduced by half and is likely to continue shrinking, depriving vulnerable Iraqis of their only lifeline. As a result, many Iraqi IDPs are living without adequate food, healthcare, and education.

In order for the UN to become meaningfully operational inside Iraq, more staff will need to be deployed and allowed to operate inside the country. As outlined in the Secretary General’s report, UNAMI is currently supporting Iraqi government ministries to provide humanitarian assistance to Iraqis. Yet given the inability of the Iraqi government to provide assistance and protection to vulnerable Iraqis and the largely held perception of corruption and sectarian bias in its programs, UNAMI needs to assume a greater role in monitoring and overseeing the way Iraq is spending international donors’ funds. As insecurity continues and as Iraqis exhaust their resources and become more vulnerable, it is critical that UNAMI fulfill its expanded roles and responsibilities as outlined under Resolution 1770.

Conditions for Iraqi refugees to return in safety and dignity --- notably security, legal support, and economic opportunities --- are not yet in place in Iraq. Poor living conditions, lack of legal status within host countries and exhausted resources are pushing Iraqis to return. There is currently no system in place to deal with property disputes and no plan in place to deal with returnees. Many of those who returned have been displaced again, creating further tensions. We urge the Security Council to oppose attempts to promote premature returns.

We therefore urge the Security Council to:

• Acknowledge the scale and urgency of the humanitarian crisis inside Iraq and in refugee hosting countries;
• Hold the Government of Iraq accountable for providing humanitarian assistance and basic services to Iraqi refugees and IDPs;
• Urge the Government of Iraq to establish a comprehensive policy framework on internally displaced persons, refugees and the overall humanitarian situation within Iraq;
• Express support for a UN humanitarian response that is strong, flexible and based on principles of impartiality and independence;
• Urge UNAMI to play a greater regional protection role to discourage arbitrary detention and deportation of Iraqi asylum seekers;
• Oppose all attempts by the Government of Iraq or other entities to encourage refugee returns until security, economic stability and legal support are in place;
• Support the implementation of Resolution 1770 and hold the Secretary General accountable for expanding UNAMI’s presence throughout Iraq to fulfill its expanded roles and responsibilities.

Sincerely,

Kenneth H. Bacon
President, Refugees International