Iraqi Refugee CrisisIraqi Refugee Crisis

Prepared by Nicholas Elliott with help from Jennifer Bing-Canar

What’s a refugee?What’s a refugee?

Has a well-founded fear of being Has a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinionsocial group or political opinion

Is outside their home countryIs outside their home country Is unable to get protection in their home Is unable to get protection in their home

countrycountry

According to the United Nations, a refugee is a person who

Why are so many Iraqis refugees?Why are so many Iraqis refugees?

Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein First Gulf WarFirst Gulf War SanctionsSanctions Second U.S. invasion 2003 - Second U.S. invasion 2003 -

presentpresent 21 days into the war, Iraqi 21 days into the war, Iraqi

government fallsgovernment falls May 1, 2003 – President May 1, 2003 – President

George Bush declares, George Bush declares, “Mission Accomplished”“Mission Accomplished”

The Iraq War continues todayThe Iraq War continues today

Impacts of U.S. War and Occupation Impacts of U.S. War and Occupation of Iraq: Casualtiesof Iraq: Casualties

Iraqi Civilian DeathsIraqi Civilian Deaths 99,500 - Iraq Body Count99,500 - Iraq Body Count 151,000 - Iraqi Family 151,000 - Iraqi Family

Health SurveyHealth Survey 601,000 - Lancet Survey601,000 - Lancet Survey 1,033,000 - Opinion 1,033,000 - Opinion

Research Business Research Business Survey Survey

Impacts of War and Occupation: Impacts of War and Occupation: Iraqi YouthIraqi Youth

From 1990 to 2005, infant From 1990 to 2005, infant mortality rates increased mortality rates increased 150%150%

In 2005 alone, 122,000 In 2005 alone, 122,000 Iraqi children died before Iraqi children died before reaching 5.reaching 5.

By 2009, child By 2009, child malnutrition stands at malnutrition stands at 22%.22%.

28% of Iraqi children 28% of Iraqi children suffer some degree of suffer some degree of PTSD.PTSD.

Impacts of War and Occupation:Impacts of War and Occupation:Iraqi YouthIraqi Youth

2003-2007 school 2003-2007 school attendance is only attendance is only 30% in Iraq.30% in Iraq.

Youth are joining Youth are joining militias and militias and becoming child becoming child soldiers.soldiers.

500 Iraqi youth are 500 Iraqi youth are in prison without in prison without chargecharge

Psychological ImpactsPsychological Impactsof War and Occupationof War and Occupation

Source: AFSC and AFSC Staff Report Jordan/UNHCR

• 80% witnessed a shooting 80% witnessed a shooting • 68% interrogated or harassed by 68% interrogated or harassed by

militiasmilitias• 77% affected by shelling/rocket 77% affected by shelling/rocket

attacksattacks• 72% witnessed a car bombing72% witnessed a car bombing• 23% of Iraqis in Baghdad have had a 23% of Iraqis in Baghdad have had a

family member kidnappedfamily member kidnapped• 75% had a family member or 75% had a family member or

someone close to them murderedsomeone close to them murdered• 80,000 Iraqis need artificial limbs80,000 Iraqis need artificial limbs

Iraqi DisplacementIraqi Displacement

Over 5 Million Iraqis DisplacedOver 5 Million Iraqis Displaced

Estimated Total of Displaced Iraqis since 2003: 5.4 million Population of Chicago: 2.8

million At the height of the crisis,

over 3,000 Iraqis displaced per day

83 per hour

Refugee StatisticsRefugee Statistics

• Iraqi refugees outside IraqIraqi refugees outside Iraq 2.2 million 2.2 million

• Iraqis displaced inside IraqIraqis displaced inside Iraq 2.7 million 2.7 million

• Iraqis fleeing their homes each month 60,000Iraqis fleeing their homes each month 60,000

• In JordanIn Jordan 450,000-500,000 450,000-500,000

• In SyriaIn Syria 1.2 – 1.4 million 1.2 – 1.4 million

• In Iran and other Arab Countries In Iran and other Arab Countries 333,000 – 357,000 333,000 – 357,000

Inside IraqInside Iraq

• 8 million Iraqi civilians need urgent assistance 8 million Iraqi civilians need urgent assistance

• 4 million have food insecurity4 million have food insecurity

• 2.7 million internally displaced 2.7 million internally displaced • More than half of these displaced since February 2006More than half of these displaced since February 2006

Iraqi Refugees in JordanIraqi Refugees in Jordan

Iraqi Refugees in JordanIraqi Refugees in Jordan Refugees have no legal

status in Jordan Those who can deposit

$50,000 U.S. are able to obtain an annual residency pass

Jordan condemned for recognizing Iraqis simply as visitors, not extending the same rights as refugees

Source: http://halfpalestinian.wordpress.com/

Iraqi Refugees in JordanIraqi Refugees in Jordan

A large segment of the Iraqi Chaldean Christian population has fled to neighboring Jordan Photo: www.ankawa.com

An Iraqi street vendor sells her wares in Amman, Jordan, July 2005. Photo: Jon Elmer 2005

Iraqi refugee kids set off for school in Zarqa, JordanPhoto: IRC

Iraqi Refugees in SyriaIraqi Refugees in Syria

•1.5 million Iraqi refugees living in Syria; most fled the extreme sectarian violence sparked by the bombing of the Mosque of Samarra in 2006

•700,000 fled to Syria in 2006 alone

•October 2007 the Syrian government imposed strict visa requirements for refugees

•Until May 2008, only a handful of international NGOs were allowed to work in Syria

Iraqi Refugees in SyriaIraqi Refugees in Syria

In Damascus, a UNHCR staff member talks with an Iraqi refugee family in the 1-room apartment

shared between 13 family members Photo: UNHCR/M.Bernard

Iraqi Refugees in SyriaIraqi Refugees in Syria

Iraqi refugees sell bread at a market in Damascus

Iraqi refugees in Syria wait their turn to be processed by UNHCR

A blind Iraqi man sells shoes in Damascus

Women and Children Women and Children are the Most at Riskare the Most at Risk

• More than 33% of Iraqi More than 33% of Iraqi refugees registered with refugees registered with UNHCR have special needs, UNHCR have special needs, including medical needs and including medical needs and women at riskwomen at risk

• Thousands of Iraqi women in Thousands of Iraqi women in neighboring states have neighboring states have turned to prostitution as an turned to prostitution as an economic means to surviveeconomic means to survive

• Percentage of Internally Displaced Iraqis who are women and Percentage of Internally Displaced Iraqis who are women and children is 82%children is 82%

Iraqis at RiskIraqis at Risk• According to some organizations, According to some organizations,

most prominently The List Project: most prominently The List Project: • The US has a pressing moral onus The US has a pressing moral onus

to resettle the several hundred to resettle the several hundred thousand Iraqis and their families thousand Iraqis and their families who assisted the US in military and who assisted the US in military and non-military effortsnon-military efforts

• These Iraqis have been branded as These Iraqis have been branded as traitors in many contexts and have traitors in many contexts and have received death threatsreceived death threats

• This community, like many other This community, like many other vulnerable refugee groups, is still at vulnerable refugee groups, is still at risk and should be resettled. Yet, risk and should be resettled. Yet, considering they represent at most considering they represent at most 5% of total refugee population this is 5% of total refugee population this is only a startonly a start

Photo- Ali Al-Fadhily, IPS News

Rebuilding: What Will It Cost Iraq?Rebuilding: What Will It Cost Iraq?

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz estimates that the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined will end up costing the U.S. $3 trillion.

Yet we must also ask what the cost of the wars will be for the citizens of the countries where these wars are being waged.

What Will It Take to Rebuild Iraq?What Will It Take to Rebuild Iraq? An estimated 40%

of the Iraqi middle class has left.

More than 300,00 school-aged children displaced

“Brain drain”

A group of Iraqi women listens to a social worker from Catholic Relief ServicesSource: CRS

The Way Forward?The Way Forward?

The Way Forward Depends on the The Way Forward Depends on the Fate of Iraqi RefugeesFate of Iraqi Refugees

The Way Forward Depends on the The Way Forward Depends on the Fate of Iraqi RefugeesFate of Iraqi Refugees

Provide substantial long-term and transparent funding for Provide substantial long-term and transparent funding for humanitarian relief, reparations, and Iraqi-led reconstruction humanitarian relief, reparations, and Iraqi-led reconstruction effortsefforts

Provide humanitarian assistance to Iraqi refugees and increase Provide humanitarian assistance to Iraqi refugees and increase its impactits impact

Lead resettlement of Iraqi refugeesLead resettlement of Iraqi refugees

Appoint a White House coordinator for Iraqi refugeesAppoint a White House coordinator for Iraqi refugees

The U.S. has a binding moral and legal responsibility to all Iraqis. The U.S. has a binding moral and legal responsibility to all Iraqis. Specifically, the U.S. should:Specifically, the U.S. should:

2008 and 2009 have seen an increase in Iraqi resettlement in the US – 12,000 in 2008 and 17,000 in 2009

What Can You Do?What Can You Do? Be aware of the situationBe aware of the situation. Check in for the latest news at alternative news . Check in for the latest news at alternative news

sources such as democracynow.org, commondreams.org, alternet.org, sources such as democracynow.org, commondreams.org, alternet.org, directaidiraq.org, and afsc.org.directaidiraq.org, and afsc.org.

Tell others what you have learned.Tell others what you have learned. Share it with your friends, family, teachers, Share it with your friends, family, teachers, and community members. and community members.

Extend the hand of friendship. Extend the hand of friendship. Iraqi refugees are often the target of hatred Iraqi refugees are often the target of hatred because they, too, need a share of the limited resources of the communities they because they, too, need a share of the limited resources of the communities they are resettling in. Chances are, the Iraqi population will grow in Chicago and they are resettling in. Chances are, the Iraqi population will grow in Chicago and they will need neighbors who understand where they are coming from and are willing will need neighbors who understand where they are coming from and are willing to help them out.to help them out.

Volunteer at local resettlement agencies.Volunteer at local resettlement agencies. Iraqi refugees have little to their Iraqi refugees have little to their names and need basic necessities like food, clothing, and household items. School names and need basic necessities like food, clothing, and household items. School age children often need tutoring. Check with the local resettlement agencies like age children often need tutoring. Check with the local resettlement agencies like Heartland Alliance, Interfaith Refugee Services, and Catholic Charities.Heartland Alliance, Interfaith Refugee Services, and Catholic Charities.

Keep in touch with AFSC! Keep in touch with AFSC! We have lots of resources you can use to advocate for We have lots of resources you can use to advocate for Iraqi refugees in your community.Iraqi refugees in your community.