'World must share more of Iraq refugee burden'

Geneva, Feb 3: The world must share more of the burden ofIraqis fleeing violence or persecution in their homeland, amid signs ofstrain in major host countries Jordan and Syria, the United Nationsrefugee agency has said.

The two neighbours have taken in more than 1.2 million Iraqis,many in the past few years, and the exodus continues, the UN HighCommissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.

Up to 50,000 Iraqis flee their homes each month, tens of thousandsof whom leave the country, mainly to Jordan and Syria, with the reststruggling to survive within its borders, it says.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres yesterday begana week-long trip to the region to discuss the Iraqis' plight andmarshal funds for the agency's 60 million dollars appeal. Stops includeSaudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and Syria.

''Unremitting violence in Iraq will likely mean continued massinternal and external displacement affecting much of the surroundingregion,'' Redmond told a news briefing.

Out of Iraq's population of 26 million, some 1.8 million Iraqisare uprooted within its borders, including an estimated 640,000 in thepast year alone, according to new UNHCR figures.

A total of 2 million Iraqis have fled to nearby countries orbeyond over the years. Besides Jordan and Syria, the other regionalhosts are Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and Iran.

Iraqis in Jordan and Syria face increasing difficulties inenrolling their children in overcrowded schools, getting access tobasic services including health care, and extending their visas,according to UNHCR spokeswoman Astrid Van Genderen.

''First and foremost there should be enough funding to support thegovernments of countries who are receiving (Iraqis) to deal with theincreased burden and pressures,'' she said.

''Jordan and Syria have kept their doors open for a long time now,actually years now. They have not stopped, but there are increasedproblems. It is simmering,'' she said.

Worldwide, the UNHCR's policy is to try to settle refugees intheir country of asylum or at least in the region, but it also promotes''third-country resettlement'' in special cases.

In the past few years, the number of Iraqis accepted forresettlement in third countries, including the United States, ''hasonly been in the hundreds'', Redmond said.

''We project that possibly 20,000 resettlement places could beneeded by the end of 2007 for Iraqis, the most vulnerable cases,'' hesaid. ''Resettlement to third countries could help ease the burden oncountries with 700,000 Iraqis like Jordan.'' The Geneva-based UNHCRwill host an international conference on Iraqi displacement andhumanitarian needs in mid-April.

Reuters

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