Iraq's refugees: U.S. must do more
"Today, within Iraq, 1.6 million people have already fled or been expelled from their homes. An additional 1.8 million, fleeing sectarian violence, kidnappings, extortion, death threats and carnage, have sought refuge in neighboring countries. At least 700,000 are in Jordan, 600,000 in Syria, 100,000 in Egypt, 54,000 in Iran and 20,000 in Lebanon.
. . . Last year, however, America accepted only 202 Iraqi refugees, and next year we plan to accept approximately the same number.
. . . Thousands of these refugees are fleeing because they have been affiliated in some way with the United States.
. . . America needs to lead, but we cannot adequately respond to this overwhelming crisis alone. Because of the magnitude of the problem, we also need action by Iraq's neighbors and the rest of the world. An essential first step could be to hold an international conference on the issue -- ideally sponsored by the countries in the region and the United Nations -- to begin to deal with the growing number and needs of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons."
Op-Ed by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, "incoming chairman of the Senate immigration, border security and refugee subcommittee." [1]
"There is no legal requirement for the United States to rely on the United Nations. It has run its own programs in the past, notably in Southeast Asia. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese were ultimately resettled in the United States after the American withdrawal from Vietnam in 1975.
. . . The United States has even run similar programs in Iraq, helping to resettle about 40,000 Iraqi refugees in the United States and other countries after a failed uprising against Saddam Hussein in 1991. In 1996, about 6,500 Iraqis who had links to an American-sponsored coup attempt against Mr. Hussein were granted asylum.
. . . The State Department has made it clear that it is deeply concerned about the fate of Iraq’s religious minorities, including Christians.
. . . State Department officials and some advocates for refugees agree that the United States is not likely to begin resettling large numbers of Iraqis anytime soon.
. . . A State Department refugee official said that any American resettlement effort would deal with only a small part of the overall refugee problem in the region." [2]
source
[1] The Washington Post. We Can't Ignore Iraq's Refugees. December 30, 2006.
[2] The New York Times. Few Iraqis Are Gaining U.S. Sanctuary. January 2, 2007.
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posted: sunday, december 31, 2006, 11:51 PM ET
update: wednesday, january 3, 2006, 9:19 AM ET
tags: iraq refugee
. . . Last year, however, America accepted only 202 Iraqi refugees, and next year we plan to accept approximately the same number.
. . . Thousands of these refugees are fleeing because they have been affiliated in some way with the United States.
. . . America needs to lead, but we cannot adequately respond to this overwhelming crisis alone. Because of the magnitude of the problem, we also need action by Iraq's neighbors and the rest of the world. An essential first step could be to hold an international conference on the issue -- ideally sponsored by the countries in the region and the United Nations -- to begin to deal with the growing number and needs of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons."
Op-Ed by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, "incoming chairman of the Senate immigration, border security and refugee subcommittee." [1]
"There is no legal requirement for the United States to rely on the United Nations. It has run its own programs in the past, notably in Southeast Asia. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese were ultimately resettled in the United States after the American withdrawal from Vietnam in 1975.
. . . The United States has even run similar programs in Iraq, helping to resettle about 40,000 Iraqi refugees in the United States and other countries after a failed uprising against Saddam Hussein in 1991. In 1996, about 6,500 Iraqis who had links to an American-sponsored coup attempt against Mr. Hussein were granted asylum.
. . . The State Department has made it clear that it is deeply concerned about the fate of Iraq’s religious minorities, including Christians.
. . . State Department officials and some advocates for refugees agree that the United States is not likely to begin resettling large numbers of Iraqis anytime soon.
. . . A State Department refugee official said that any American resettlement effort would deal with only a small part of the overall refugee problem in the region." [2]
source
[1] The Washington Post. We Can't Ignore Iraq's Refugees. December 30, 2006.
[2] The New York Times. Few Iraqis Are Gaining U.S. Sanctuary. January 2, 2007.
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posted: sunday, december 31, 2006, 11:51 PM ET
update: wednesday, january 3, 2006, 9:19 AM ET
tags: iraq refugee
posted by eric at 11:29 PM
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