The United Nations refugee agency has launched a $60 million appeal to assist hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons affected by the conflict in Iraq.
NEW YORK: The United Nations refugee agency has launched a $60 million appeal to assist hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons affected by the conflict in Iraq.
The funds will cover UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) protection and assistance programmes for Iraqi refugees in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey, as well as non-Iraqi refugees and IDPs, in what the agency says is the largest long-term population movement in the Middle East since the displacement of Palestinians following the creation of Israel in 1948. Now, about one out of every eight Iraqis is now displaced.
"The burden on host communities and governments in the region is enormous. It is essential that the international community supports humanitarian efforts to help the most vulnerable people," High Commissioner Antonio Guterres said.
UNHCR and its partners estimate that out of a total population of 26 million, some 1.7 million Iraqis are displaced internally and up to 2 million have fled to nearby countries.
While many were displaced before 2003, increasing numbers of Iraqis are now fleeing escalating sectarian, ethnic and gene realized violence.
In 2006 alone, UNHCR estimates that nearly 500,000 Iraqis fled to other areas inside the country and that 40,000 to 50,000 continue to flee their homes every month. Planning figures under the latest appeal are for up to 2.3 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by the end of this year.
The new appeal concludes that unremitting violence will likely mean continued mass internal and external displacement. A significant proportion of displaced Iraqis has run out of resources or will soon do so, leaving them and their host communities increasingly vulnerable, UNHCR said.
There are increasing reports of women forced to resort to prostitution and growing child labour problems. A main objective will be ensuring effective protection and assistance for up to 200,000 of the most vulnerable Iraqis in nearby countries, nearly all of them in urban areas such as Amman in Jordan and Damascus in Syria.
More international help is needed to ensure that neighbouring states keep their borders open to those in need of refuge, UNHCR said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}