Priority Policy Recommendations
Afghanistan, Pakistan
The U.S. and the UN should uphold principles of international refugee law, and ensure that any returns from Pakistan are voluntary.
Afghanistan, Pakistan
The U.S. and other donor countries should support integration and reintegration programs in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and reallocate their resources to fund existing and new programs targeted at refugees and returnees.
Burma
The U.S. government and the European Commission should immediately commit funds to continue humanitarian cyclone relief past the emergency stage and into 2009 for food security, early recovery and livelihoods programs. They should allocate these funds based on revised assessments of need and the ability to effectively implement such programs.
Somalia
The US Administration must condemn human rights violations committed by the Ethiopian forces. The US Congress should investigate the conditions under which military support was provided to Ethiopia, ensuring it adheres to the principles outlined under US law
Iraq, Syria
The U.S. and other donor governments must fully fund the UN’s Comprehensive Appeal Process (CAP) and increase resettlement numbers.
Iraq, Syria
The U.S. must establish a high-level presence in Syria and pressure the Government of Iraq to provide assistance to displaced Iraqis and establish conditions for return.
Successes
  • Burma
    In 2008, the U.S. provided $50 million in assistance after Cyclone Nargis struck the Irrawaddy Delta -- killing 140,000 and affecting 2.4 million others. This was a tremendous increase over the U.S. government’s previous $3 million budget for aid to Burmese people inside the country. Refugees International slowly began to change the U.S. government’s stance against funding humanitarian aid programs inside Burma after two years of being one of the few organizations calling for increased assistance.