UN report highlights plight of over 800,000 IDPs (Iraq)

[Barrett808]

Source: IRIN

BAGHDAD, 29 May 2007 (IRIN) - Escalating fighting and sectarian violence are forcing hundreds of families in Iraq to flee their homes on a daily basis, aid agencies say.

According to a report released on Sunday by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), an estimated 822,810 Iraqis are now displaced within their country.

Muhammad Abdul-Yassin, 39, was forced to leave his home nine months ago after continuous fighting near his home and being targeting by militias. He said he had to change his place of residence more than four times.

"There are no safe places in Iraq. Militants or insurgents find you wherever you are," Abdul-Yassin said.

"Each time we arrived in a new camp, dozens of other families arrived with us. Most of the places are full to bursting and some of the displaced families are forced to sleep rough on the ground without tents until aid agencies can give them some protection and food. In the camp where we are staying now, we were forced to sleep in the open air for three days and drink dirty water because the aid agencies couldn't reach us," he said.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/e24c801a0558879772e02fe980034914.htm