Read more about the Iraqi Refugee Crisis here.

Refugees International advocates will be traveling to Lebanon, Syria and Egypt from October 15 to November 2, 2007 to conduct a follow-up assessment mission on the humanitarian response to the Iraqi refugee crisis in the three countries. The Refugees International (RI) team, which visited Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan earlier this year, will evaluate the overall effectiveness of the response to the needs of refugees and of efforts to provide assistance and protection to groups that are particularly vulnerable.

The security situation inside Iraq continues to deteriorate, forcing thousands more Iraqis to seek refuge in neighboring countries. RI’s last mission to the region documented how conflict in Iraq, aggravated by inter-communal tensions, has forced entire religious and ethnic communities to leave their homes for fear of persecution. RI continues to be concerned about the humanitarian situation of Iraqi refugees living in urban areas as well as the stability of the host communities as the refugees add an increasing strain on basic infrastructure and resources.

The mission will evaluate how international and national aid agencies and the governments of Lebanon, Syria and Egypt are assisting Iraqi refugees in light of increased international attention to this issue, and increased international funding commitments. RI will assess UN and humanitarian agencies efforts to meet protection and assistance needs and identify any constraints. The mission will focus on the degree to which responses to assistance needs have included protection components, and will examine how the international response is being coordinated, as well as efforts to find longer term solutions for the displaced.