UN decries minimal aid for 4 million Iraqi refugees and their host countries

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WP: U.N. Decries Neglect of Iraqi Refugees
Increased Support Urged for Leading Host Countries Syria and Jordan
By Sudarsan Raghavan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, July 7, 2007; Page A11

BAGHDAD, July 6 -- U.N. refugee officials on Friday accused donor countries of neglecting the plight of hundreds of thousands of refugees from Iraq flooding into neighboring Syria and Jordan.

"It is unconscionable that generous host countries be left on their own to deal with such a huge crisis," Ron Redmond, a spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, told reporters in Geneva.

In April, the United States and other Western countries pledged financial help for Iraqis fleeing violence and chaos. But even as the number of refugees in Syria and Jordan swells to more than 2 million, aid has been minimal. So far, donations total $70 million, with an additional $10 million in pledges. But hundreds of millions of dollars are needed to cope with the crisis, U.N. officials said.

"The two countries caring for the biggest proportion of Iraqi refugees -- Syria and Jordan -- have still received next to nothing in bilateral help from the world community," Redmond said. "The growing refugee population and the communities that host them are facing enormous hardships that will only get worse if the international community doesn't put its money where its mouth is."

Sweden, which has provided safe haven to more Iraqi refugees than the United States and other European countries, announced Friday that it would make it more difficult for Iraqis to seek asylum and would deport by force any denied refuge.

Sweden has provided shelter to more than 18,000 Iraqis since 2006. In contrast, the United States has given refuge to fewer than 800 Iraqis since 2003, according to State Department figures....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/06/AR2007070602049.html?hpid=topnews