The Iraqi Refugee CrisisThe Iraqi Refugee Crisis

Prepared by Nicholas Elliott with help from Jennifer Bing-Canar

Cause of the Crisis: Cause of the Crisis: U.S. Led Invasion, March 2003U.S. Led Invasion, March 2003

U.S. invasion on March 19, 2003U.S. invasion on March 19, 2003 21 days into the war, Iraqi government falls21 days into the war, Iraqi government falls May 1, 2003 – President George Bush May 1, 2003 – President George Bush

declares, “Mission Accomplished.”declares, “Mission Accomplished.”

Impacts of War and Occupation: Impacts of War and Occupation: Iraqi CasualtiesIraqi 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 age 5reaching age 5

In 2009, the child In 2009, the child malnutrition rate is 22%malnutrition rate is 22%

28% of Iraqi children 28% of Iraqi children suffer from PTSDsuffer from PTSD

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

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

Youth are joining Youth are joining militias and militias and becoming child becoming child soldierssoldiers

500 Iraqi youth 500 Iraqi youth are in prison are in prison without chargewithout charge

Psychological ImpactsPsychological Impactsof War and Occupationof War and Occupation

• 80% witnessed a shooting 80% witnessed a shooting • 68% interrogated or harassed by militias68% interrogated or harassed by militias• 77% affected by shelling/rocket attacks77% affected by shelling/rocket attacks• 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 someone 75% had a family member or someone

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

Source: AFSC and AFSC Staff Report Jordan/UNHCR

Iraqi DisplacementIraqi Displacement

Over 5 Million Iraqis DisplacedOver 5 Million Iraqis Displaced

Estimated Total of Displaced Iraqis since 2003: over 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

Displaced Groups at RiskDisplaced Groups at Risk

• Persecution of Persecution of Christians in Mosul and Christians in Mosul and tensions over Kirkuk tensions over Kirkuk represent a potential represent a potential source of future source of future refugees and Internally refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs)Displaced People (IDPs)

• 34,000 Palestinian 34,000 Palestinian refugees (from 1948 refugees (from 1948 and 1967 Wars) now and 1967 Wars) now stranded along Iraq-stranded along Iraq-Syria Border in camps Syria Border in camps with terrible conditionswith terrible conditions

Al-Tanf refugee Camp Photo: UNHCR

Why Is This Refugee Crisis Different?Why Is This Refugee Crisis Different?

FIVE YEARS LATER , A HIDDEN CRISIS : Report of the IRC Commission on Iraqi Refugees

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%

““Survival Sex” in Syria-based Iraqi Survival Sex” in Syria-based Iraqi Refugee CommunitiesRefugee Communities

• Since June 2007, there has been a Since June 2007, there has been a documented sex trade of Iraqi refugee documented sex trade of Iraqi refugee women and young girls in Syriawomen and young girls in Syria

• UNHCR calls it “Survival Sex” and sees it as UNHCR calls it “Survival Sex” and sees it as directly proportional to general refugee directly proportional to general refugee impoverishmentimpoverishment

• Hana Ibrahim, founder of the Iraqi Hana Ibrahim, founder of the Iraqi women's group “Women's Will” puts the women's group “Women's Will” puts the figure at 50,000 women.figure at 50,000 women.

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

Iraqi Refugees in the U.S.Iraqi Refugees in the U.S.

•U.S. increased the number of Iraqi refugees allowed to resettle in the states and actually accepted more than 12,000 in FY 2008

•At the end of December 2008, there were 18,835 Iraqi refugees resettled in the U.S.

•According to the State Dept Senior Coordinator for Iraqi Refugee Issues, the U.S. seeks to admit a minimum of 17,000 Iraqi Refugees in FY 2009

State Department Senior Coordinator for Iraqi Refugee Issues, James Foley

Process and Policy of Process and Policy of Refugee Resettlement in U.S.Refugee Resettlement in U.S.

There are three ways in which an Iraqi individual can obtain resettlement in the US:

1.As a refugee according to the definition in the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees. This must be obtained by registering with the UNHCR.

2.As a Special Immigration Visa Holder, which goes to those who have aided U.S. Forces.

3.Through the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program, which also goes to those who have aided the U.S. and their immediate family or to those who already have immediate family in the U.S. as permanent residents.

Refugee Communities in the U.S.Refugee Communities in the U.S.

Iraqis Resettled in the U.S.Iraqis Resettled in the U.S.

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?The Way Forward?

““Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that America has both a Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that America has both a moral obligation and a responsibility for security that moral obligation and a responsibility for security that demands we confront Iraq’s humanitarian crisis more than ‐‐demands we confront Iraq’s humanitarian crisis more than ‐‐five million Iraqis are refugees or are displaced inside their five million Iraqis are refugees or are displaced inside their own country. Obama and Biden will form an international own country. Obama and Biden will form an international working group to address this crisis. They will provide at least working group to address this crisis. They will provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find sanctuary.”find sanctuary.”

The Way ForwardThe Way Forward • AIDAID

• Displaced Iraqis need more assistance, and aid delivery needs to be Displaced Iraqis need more assistance, and aid delivery needs to be more effective. The U.S. has the principal responsibility and should more effective. The U.S. has the principal responsibility and should lead by example. lead by example.

• ReturnReturn• Best solution for refugees is safe, voluntary return. With more than Best solution for refugees is safe, voluntary return. With more than

40% of Middle Class outside of Iraq, this is crucial to Iraq’s future. 40% of Middle Class outside of Iraq, this is crucial to Iraq’s future.

• ResettlementResettlement• A large number of Iraqis will not return under any circumstances. A large number of Iraqis will not return under any circumstances.

The US must lead international efforts to find third countries for The US must lead international efforts to find third countries for their settlement. their settlement.

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:

AFSC and Iraqi Refugee Communities AFSC and Iraqi Refugee Communities in the Middle East in the Middle East

Building the skills needed to work Building the skills needed to work with ex-prisoners and victims of with ex-prisoners and victims of torture. torture.

Helping survivors of violence and Helping survivors of violence and amputees recover from physical and amputees recover from physical and psychological trauma through psychological trauma through individual peer support and other individual peer support and other ways of overcoming depression, ways of overcoming depression, loneliness and frustration.loneliness and frustration.

Training refugees in handicraft Training refugees in handicraft production as a way to supplement production as a way to supplement their incometheir income

AFSC is working with local organizations in Jordan and other countries to AFSC is working with local organizations in Jordan and other countries to support refugees by:support refugees by:

What Can You Do?What Can You Do?Be aware of the situation. Check in for the latest news at alternative news sources such as DemocracyNow.org, CommonDreams.org, AlterNet.org, and DirectAidIraq.org.

Tell others what you have learned. Share it with your friends, family, teachers, and community members. Only when the majority of people are aware of the issue and feel the responsibility that we have to the Iraqi people can we pressure our leaders to make it a priority.

Extend the hand of friendship. Iraqi refugees are often the target of hatred 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 your community and they will need neighbors who understand where they are coming from and are willing to help them out.

Check with local resettlement agencies. Donated items are often needed for these agencies, but you may have some skill or talent that would also be beneficial, like tutoring, mentoring or skill sharing.

Advocate for the U.S. to admit more refugees. Write letters to the Editor, arrange visits with your representatives-find out who else is advocating for this and try to work with them.

Join our Countdown to Withdrawal campaign. You will receive monthly advocacy messages to help end the war and build the peace. www.countdowntowithdrawal.org

Support AFSC’s work in the region. Visit our website at www.afsc.org to find out how you can help.