For 35 years, my home has been one of the world’s major conflict
regions, home also to over 10 million refugees and displaced
inhabitants. World Refugee Day is a time to honor and support these
individuals and families who persevere through devastating tragedies.
I have lived and worked with the nearly 6 million Palestinian refugees
and now nearly 5 million displaced Iraqis, many from each group now
making their homes in Jordan. I have also worked with displaced people
from Afghanistan, Colombia, Somalia, and those seeking safe haven
during the first Gulf War. I have witnessed first-hand the anguish of
those uprooted from their homes -- people who have had their lives
threatened, homes bombed, and family members kidnapped or murdered.
The global displacement crisis is both a humanitarian and a security
issue. History shows that mass migrations pose a serious threat to
regional stability, as we have seen in Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia,
Sudan and West Africa. The Middle East is particularly vulnerable as
ongoing tensions are further strained by such large scale displacement.
Yet, I have also seen that refugees are a tremendous inspiration.
Supporting these vulnerable people not only reduces their suffering,
but also brings peace to troubled regions. Despite the pain and trauma
they have experienced, refugees and displaced people hold on to the
hope that they can someday return home and rebuild their lives. Like
all of us, they want to be able to contribute to society, earn incomes,
and send their children to school. An investment in refugees is an
investment in whole communities and a clear way to promote peace and
prosperity.
Over the past few weeks, conflict between the Pakistani government and
militants has made world headlines as some two million people have been
forced to flee. In December 2001, I traveled to Pakistan with Refugees
International and saw refugees pouring over the border from
Afghanistan. Today, Pakistanis who seek protection from the current
violence have had no alternative but to live in some of the very same
camps built for Afghan refugees. Many more are living with families in
small, over-crowded homes, struggling to access emergency aid.
Refugees International just returned from Pakistan again this week,
where staff members spoke directly with displaced people, aid workers
and government officials to ensure that the needs of displaced
Pakistanis are not ignored. RI is now steering through the corridors of
power
providing the most credible information to policy makers on how to resolve this humanitarian crisis.
The world simply must respond more effectively to this crisis than it
has to date. The U.S. has been generous, but other governments are
lagging and the UN and private agencies are struggling to meet the
massive needs. I have taken the initiative to write a
letter to the Foreign Ministers of leading Arab and Islamic governments urging them to respond to the need for humanitarian aid to displaced Pakistanis.
Yet, there are also those refugees whose suffering is no longer making
frequent headlines. According to the UN, there could be as many as 4.8
million displaced Iraqis, more than half inside Iraq and the rest
scattered throughout the region. Many remain reluctant to return home
due to continued violence, the creation of ethnically cleansed
neighborhoods, and poor government services. Others have tried to
return, but found their homes occupied or destroyed.
While we wait for the situation in Iraq to improve, we must continue to
help those who cannot go home. We in Jordan have committed ourselves to
providing aid and support to this population.
The Noor Al Hussein Foundation ,
which I chair, is providing health care, rehabilitation services, and
psycho-social counseling to thousands of Iraqis in Jordan through our
Institute for Family Health. We have also expanded the Foundation’s
services to provide training to Iraqi youth in home business management
and livelihood skills. This encourages entrepreneurship and strengthens
their potential to earn incomes. These efforts are a small contribution
to addressing the challenges these Iraqi families face while waiting to
return home, but there is much yet to be done.
Refugees International continues to lead the call to support Iraqi
refugees, as well as millions more displaced people fleeing the world’s
worst crises. The organization’s 30 years of experience has contributed
to peace and stability and improved the lives of displaced people in
countries like Jordan, Iraq and Pakistan. On World Refugee Day, we
should reflect on those we have helped. But we must also focus our gaze
on how much more is needed to end the vicious cycle of violence and
intolerance, and support a more peaceful and prosperous world.
Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan has been a member of Refugees International’s Board of Directors since 2001.