Arab League turns down Syrian request for Iraqi refugee assistance

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/03/africa/ME-GEN-Arab-League-Iraqi-Refugees.php

CAIRO, Egypt: Arab League representatives rejected a Syrian request Monday to set up a fund to support Iraqis who have fled to neighboring countries, said an official involved in the decision.

Syria and Jordan, which host more than 2 million Iraqi refugees, have complained that the influx has overwhelmed their health and education infrastructures, leaving them desperate for outside assistance.

But Arab League officials in Egypt's capital, Cairo, preparing for the group's meeting on Wednesday turned down Syria's recent request for financial assistance, according to Abdulwalli el-Shmeri, Yemen's representative to the 22-member organization made up of Arab foreign ministers.

"There was no Arab consensus to set up this fund," said el-Shmeri, without providing a reason for the decision.

[The Stranger]

1. Since the U.S. decided unilaterally to attack Iraq, shouldn't the U.S. take in the Iraqi refugees?

Just a thought.

[NNN0LHI]

2. I agree this is the fault of the US

And we know Bush isn't going to help them. But that doesn't give these thugs with the Arab League the right to ignore the suffering going on. A little bit could go a long way to help these poor people and the Arab League could do something to help in my estimation. It wouldn't hurt them to kick in with some funding.

Don