Read more about the Iraqi Refugee Crisis.

Refugees International is traveling to Northern Iraq, Jordan and Egypt from February 21st to March 19th to conduct our second assessment of the humanitarian response to the Iraqi refugee crisis – the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world. The UN estimates that 2 million Iraqis have fled to surrounding countries, while another 600,000 have vacated their homes for safer areas within Iraq. A Refugees International (RI) team will evaluate how effective the international response to the needs of these Iraqis has been and whether those displaced inside the country have adequate access to food, water, shelter and healthcare. In addition, the team will be looking at what measures are being taken to protect displaced Iraqis from further violence.

Since the beginning of the conflict in Iraq, the security situation has continued to deteriorate, and is now displacing millions of Iraqis. As the conflict in Iraq is now aggravated by religious and ethnic tensions, entire communities are being forced to leave their homes for fear of persecution. The UN has estimated 100,000 Iraqis are now fleeing the country every month. RI is particularly concerned about the humanitarian situation of displaced Iraqis who do not have the legal right to remain in the countries they have fled to. RI is also concerned about the fate of religious minorities and other vulnerable groups, such as Palestinian, Somali, and Sudanese refugees, who have now fled Iraq.

During October and November of 2006, RI conducted a mission to Lebanon, Syria and Jordan -- the three largest host countries for Iraqis -- to examine the conditions faced by Iraqi refugees and to assess the ability of those nations to provide an adequate response to the refugee crisis. RI found that these countries are becoming increasingly strained by the growing number of Iraqi refugees. Syria and Jordan have now begun to close their borders and place tighter restrictions on the incoming Iraqis. RI has urged the international community to do more to help support these countries and to facilitate the resettlement of displaced Iraqis elsewhere.

The current mission will assess any progress that UNHCR and other agencies have made in assisting Iraqis throughout the region in the last few months and follow up on our previous work by looking at two new groups – those displaced inside Iraq and those who have fled to Egypt. RI will examine how well the UN, international aid agencies and the governments of Egypt and Iraq, including the Kurdish leaders, have been able to assist displaced Iraqis. RI will also look at any factors that may be constraining or hampering the missions of these organizations. In addition, the RI team will focus on whether responses to the humanitarian needs of Iraqis have included protecting vulnerable groups from violence.

To schedule an interview with Refugees International about Iraqi refugees, please contact Megan Fowler at 202-828-0110 x214.