US Assistance to Iraqi Refugees

Michael Gerson, in a column in today's Washington Post, accurately argues that it is in the best interest of the US Administration, as well as other governments, to increase bilateral aid to countries hosting Iraqi refugees.

Helping Iraqi refugees on a larger scale is not an embarrassing necessity. It is an opportunity to show consistency, humanitarian concern and constructive, long-term engagement in the Middle East. Rather than ceding leadership on this issue to Congress, the administration should develop a comprehensive approach -- increasing its own funding to aid refugees while pressing friends in the Middle East and Europe to do more as well.

This is a refreshing message from one of President Bush’s own former speechwriters.

As we found in our recent mission to Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, these countries are struggling to assist nearly 2 million refugees who have fled the ongoing violence in Iraq. Iraqis are having a difficult time accessing health care and their children are not in school. A significant increase in bilateral assistance to the host countries would go a long way in promoting security and stability in the Middle East by ensuring that those Iraqis who have already suffered so much can at least meet their basic needs.

Read more about Refugees International work on Iraqi refugees here.