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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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February 16th,
2007 - Report: 1 Million Iraqis May Flee in ‘07 |
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Report: 1 Million Iraqis May
Flee in ‘07 The Associated Press February 16, 2007; 2:11 PM Geneva - Unrelenting
violence and insecurity in Iraq could cause as many as 1 million Iraqis to
flee their homes this year, the world's migration body said Friday. "The numbers of people
that are being displaced are increasing every day," said Jemini Pandaya,
spokeswoman for the International Organization for Migration. "The
security situation is not improving. It's not changing." Pandaya said the
organization's estimate was made "on the assumption that security
conditions will continue much as they are." The possibility of
neighboring countries, such as Syria, closing their borders would mean even
more of the displaced would only be able to get as far as other parts of
Iraq. On Thursday, the U.N.
refugee agency appealed to the European Union to do more to protect refugees
fleeing Iraq, saying the war was the cause of the biggest displacement of
people in the Middle East in recent history. "The humanitarian
situation is grave and deteriorating. States should respond to the protection
needs of Iraqi asylum seekers on their territory," said Madeline
Garlick, a spokeswoman for the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for
Refugees in Brussels. That appeal came a day after
Washington announced it will allow about 7,000 Iraqis into the United States
this year - up from 202 in 2006 - and will pay more to help Iraq's neighbors
cope with the surge of refugees. As the bloodshed in Iraq has
increased, European governments have come under increasing pressure to open
their doors to asylum-seekers. Many are worried that an escalation in
violence in 2007 could generate a fresh wave of refugees. The U.N. appeal came as the
EU announced it would contribute $13 million more for Iraqi refugees. About
60 percent will go to help those who have fled to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. © 2007 The Associated Press External link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021600377.html |