Iraqi Refugees Flood Into Syria

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: AP

TANAF, Syria (AP) — Afraid of proposed new visa restrictions, Iraqis flooded into Syria at 10 times their normal numbers earlier this month until the measures were postponed, a Syrian customs official said Thursday.

More then 20,000 Iraqis were pouring across the border every day, compared to 2,000 a day normally. The large influx began Sept. 1, when Syria announced that visas would be required to enter the country, the official told reporters touring the remote Tanaf desert border crossing.

On Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said the visa requirement would be postponed until after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends around Oct. 12.

After the announcement, the number of Iraqis entering Syria dropped to its usual number, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

More than 2 million Iraqis have fled the violence engulfing their country, most to neighboring Jordan and Syria.

With Jordan imposing its own strict visa restrictions on Iraqis, Syria has increasingly borne the brunt. Officials say the 1.5 million refugees are a heavy burden on the country's health and education resources.


A Syrian customs official, left, checks a car belonging to Iraqi refugees at the Al-Tanaf border crossing with Iraq, 275 km (170 miles) northeast of Damascus, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)


Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gTDpYoGunGtFG1fFPrLJpNOmc5gA

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Iraq: The World's Fastest Growing Refugee Crisis



The displacement of Iraqis from Iraq is now the fastest-growing refugee crisis in the world.

The UN estimates that over 4 million Iraqis have been displaced by violence in their country, the vast majority of which have fled since 2003. Over 2.2 million have vacated their homes for safer areas within Iraq, 1.5 million are now living in Syria, and over 1 million refugees inhabit Jordan, Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, and Turkey. Most Iraqis are determined to be resettled to Europe or North America, and few consider return to Iraq an option. With no legal work options in their current host countries, Iraqis are already exploring the use of false documents to migrate to Western nations.



The violence in Iraq has reached a deadly tipping point: Most Iraqis feel threatened.

“Iraqis who are unable to flee the country are now in a queue, waiting their turn to die,” is how one Iraqi journalist summarizes conditions in Iraq today. While the US debates whether a civil war is raging in Iraq, thousands of Iraqis face the possibility of death every day all over the country. Refugees International has met with dozens of Iraqis who have fled the violence and sought refuge in neighboring countries. All of them, whether Sunni, Shi’a, Christian or Palestinian, had been directly victimized by armed actors. People are targeted because of religious affiliation, economic status, and profession – many, such as doctors, teachers, and even hairdressers, are viewed as being “anti-Islamic.” All of them fled Iraq because they had genuine and credible fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones.



Neighboring countries are being overwhelmed by the massive influx of Iraqi refugees.

Syria and Jordan are rapidly becoming overwhelmed by the numbers of Iraqis seeking refuge in their urban centers. Jordan, Lebanon and Syria consider Iraqis as “guests” rather than refugees fleeing violence. None of these countries allows Iraqis to work. Although Syria is maintaining its “open door policy” in the name of pan-Arabism, it has begun imposing restrictions on Iraqi refugees, such as charges for healthcare that used to be free. In Jordan, Iraqis have to pay for the most basic services, and live in constant fear of deportation. It is also becoming increasingly difficult for Iraqis to enter Jordan or to renew their visas to remain in country.



http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/article/detail/9679

[stellanoir]

1. yup

They must feel so-o-o liberated. . .

Of their country of origin.

[shance]

2. This is so wrong. These innocent individuals are going to be rounded up like cattle.

This will not stop with the Iraqis either.

The cruelty and evil will continue until people say no more.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Obviously, the surge is working

This can only be seen as a massive vote of confidence in the security of Iraq. :sarcasm:, or course.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. Kick for more eyes to view this today.

[bdamomma]

5. we or this disgusting regime we have is causing a humanitarian

crisis, these are people you bunch of bastards in the WH, especially cheney, we all have the same color of blood RED!!!