Washington, D.C. – Nearly seven years after the beginning of the war in Iraq, an unprecedented number of Iraqis are still living in squatter slums that lack basic sanitation, water and electricity, a new field report from Refugees International (RI) said today. During visits to 20 different squatter settlements throughout Iraq, RI found that nearly 500,000 Iraqis are largely ignored by the Iraqi government, aid agencies and the United Nations. Most of these settlements are located precariously under bridges, alongside railroad tracks and amongst garbage dumps. Refugees International recommends that the U.S. increase its humanitarian aid to these communities and that the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) increase their staff and adapt their security measures in order to access these communities regularly and provide assistance.

“Iraqis living in squatter settlements are among the most vulnerable people in Iraq. Ignoring them is unconscionable,” said Elizabeth Campbell, Senior Advocate for Refugees International. “They have no legal title to their land and no money to move anywhere else, but they believe it’s still too dangerous to go home. The Government of Iraq needs to work with the U.S., UN, and aid groups to keep these people from falling through the cracks any further.”

The report, “Iraq: Humanitarian Needs Persist,” also highlights the inability of United Nations and U.S. government civilian staff to travel freely throughout the country because of highly constraining security protocols that no longer reflect the current situation in Iraq. The upcoming withdrawal of U.S. troops is likely to complicate the situation further as U.S. government officials and UN staff are dependent on the U.S. military for access to outside communities. Refugees International was able to work and travel alone without security escorts throughout most of Baghdad and multiple locations within Diyala, Salah al-Din and Babel. In addition, many Iraqis RI spoke with expressed a desire to see more of the United Nations and the international aid groups within their communities.

“The UN and the U.S. must engage in smart security—aimed at keeping their staff safe while still accessing and assisting communities in need,” added Ms. Campbell. “Given the improvements in the security situation inside Iraq, it does not make sense to keep the current UN security protocols as restrictive as they are. They are limiting the scope and effectiveness of the humanitarian effort. It’s now possible for the international community to work in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq, and it’s time for them to figure out how.”

Refugees International is a Washington, D.C.-based organization that advocates to end refugee crises. In February RI staff traveled to Iraq, Jordan and Syria where they interviewed displaced people, local and national government officials and international agencies. Since November 2006, the organization has conducted eleven missions to the Middle East and has led the call to increase assistance and solutions for displaced Iraqis. To read the report, go to http://www.refugeesinternational.org/policy/field-report/iraq-humanitari...

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