Obama Administration Must Not Forget Displaced Iraqis

Washington, D.C. - The Bush and Obama administrations demonstrated a commitment to resolving the Iraqi refugee crisis by resettling 18,883 Iraqi refugees into the United States in FY 2009, Refugees International said today. The total exceeded the original target figure by nearly 2,000. Refugees International warned, however, that the crisis continues as more Iraqis are still fleeing into neighboring countries, and few are willing to return home. Many refugees are struggling to survive on limited savings and their status in neighboring countries is extremely precarious. More must be done by both the Obama administration and Congress to respond to their continued vulnerability.

"The Iraqi refugee crisis has not magically disappeared," said Refugees International acting President Joel Charny. "The U.S. resettles very few vulnerable Iraqis. Therefore, the administration must also support the much larger number of displaced Iraqis who are struggling to survive and can never return home. Aid throughout the region is vital."  

The United Nations Refugee Agency has registered over 300,000 Iraqi refugees in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, and estimates that millions more are displaced inside and outside Iraq. The United Nations estimates that 110,000 Iraqis have returned to Iraq since mid-2008, a third of whom have been displaced again inside Iraq. Earlier this year, Refugees International learned on a mission to Baghdad, Eskanderia, Fallujah, Karbala and Hilla that displaced people still feared sectarian violence against them and their families. In July, Refugees International also found that displaced Iraqi women are increasingly susceptible to exploitation and abuse because of extreme financial pressures.

"We must ensure that host countries like Syria and Jordan have what they need to assist Iraqi refugees in their countries and that the Government of Iraq is protecting and caring for the several million Iraqis displaced within its own borders," added Mr. Charny. "The coming year will be critical for the future of Iraq. To help ensure a more stable Iraq, the Obama administration needs to develop a comprehensive plan for addressing this lingering crisis, especially in the light of planned U.S. troop withdrawals."  

Refugees International is a Washington, D.C.-based organization that advocates to end refugee crises. Since November 2006, the organization has conducted nine missions to the Middle East to assess the needs of displaced Iraqis and work with international leaders to develop effective solutions to this crisis. For more information, go to www.refugeesinternational.org.