UN Seeks Aid For 4 Million Uprooted Iraqis
The United Nations' refugee agency on Tuesday appealed for international aid for nearly 4 million Iraqis driven from their homes by conflict, and for those sheltering them inside and outside Iraq. About 2 million Iraqis have fled to Syria and Jordan, whose governments are struggling "without any meaningful support from outside," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said at the start of a two-day international conference. Another 1.9 million Iraqis are uprooted within their homeland, racked by insurgency and sectarian violence. "It is time that the international community responded with genuine solidarity and unstinting aid to displaced Iraqis and to the states housing them," Guterres said. His agency, UNHCR, says up to 50,000 Iraqis flee their homes each month in an exodus linked to pervasive violence, poor basic services, loss of jobs and an uncertain future. Although the gathering is not a donor conference, U.N. officials hope it will put pressure on Western states to provide more financial help and take more Iraqi asylum-seekers. U.N. emergency relief coordinator John Holmes said relief needs extended to those still living in their own homes in a country that had already suffered from years of neglect, sanctions and war prior to the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. "Up to 8 million Iraqi civilians are now in urgent need of humanitarian relief. That is around 4 million more even than those who are internally or externally displaced." He said Iraq was the "second worst funded humanitarian crisis worldwide".
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Jordan, Syria Beg World To Help With Iraq Refugees
Jordan and Syria begged the international community on Tuesday to help them shoulder the burden of some 2 million Iraqi refugees straining their resources and economies. Senior officials from the two states were addressing a meeting convened by the United Nations to tackle the problem of nearly 4 million Iraqis driven by the conflict to seek refuge either inside or outside Iraq. "We, in the Syrian Arab Republic, are facing a huge mass of refugees ... this lays great pressure on the economy and infrastructure of our country," Vice Foreign Minister Fayssal Mekdad told the talks. Syria is hosting an estimated 1.2 million Iraqis -- a number equal to 12 percent of its own population -- and needs another $256 million to continue providing them with aid, health care and education over the next two years, Mekdad said in a speech. Mukhaimer Abu Jamous, secretary-general of Jordan's Interior Ministry, said 750,000 Iraqi refugees were costing his government $1 billion a year, stretching to the limit the resources of a country of just 5.6 million. "We hope that this important conference results in a clear and firm commitment by the international community to take part in shouldering the great burden," he said. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, who is chairing the two-day talks, said host countries in the region had vowed to keep open their borders. "Today it is clear that the countries of asylum have pledged that they would go on granting protection to Iraqis and that they consider to send Iraqis forcibly into the country against their will is not acceptable," he told a news conference at the end of the first day.
Originally posted by GascraftMaybe the Israeli's will take them in, or maybe contribute a couple billion......
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Jordan, Syria Beg World To Help With Iraq Refugees
Jordan and Syria begged the international community on Tuesday to help them shoulder the burden of some 2 million Iraqi refugees straining their resources and economies. Senior officials from the two states were addressing a meeting convened by the United Nations to tackle the problem of ne ...[text shortened]... nst their will is not acceptable," he told a news conference at the end of the first day.
Originally posted by sonhouseAll they have to do is start walking towards Palestine. Who is gonna stop them? They will just blend in over time with the rest of the Palestinian refugees. It will be the first takeover of a country by refugees in world history, or at least, I think that is the plan.
Maybe the Israeli's will take them in, or maybe contribute a couple billion......
Originally posted by whodeyMost Palestinians were forced out. Their right of return has probably been the major stumbling block in a peace agreement.
All they have to do is start walking towards Palestine. Who is gonna stop them? They will just blend in over time with the rest of the Palestinian refugees. It will be the first takeover of a country by refugees in world history, or at least, I think that is the plan.
Originally posted by dottewellIt goes deeper than just the right to return. There is that tiny stumbling block: the avowed goal of the Palestinians to destroy Israel. That kind of puts any peace agreement on the rocks.
Most Palestinians were forced out. Their right of return has probably been the major stumbling block in a peace agreement.
Originally posted by sonhouseI don't think anyone on either side who has studied the issue in any depth since Oslo and indeed before would describe the right of return as a "tiny stumbling block".
It goes deeper than just the right to return. There is that tiny stumbling block: the avowed goal of the Palestinians to destroy Israel. That kind of puts any peace agreement on the rocks.
Oslo was only possible because the issue was fudged, and it also prevented a settlement in 2000.
Putting the rhetoric to one side, most other points (with the exception of the status of Jerusalem) have been agreed in the past and could be again.
Originally posted by GascraftIt wasn't illegal for the countries that fought in the war.
3.9 million Iraqi people have left their homes in Iraq. 50,000 leave the country each month, while many more are internally displaced.
Wow.. that's a lot of homeless people for an illegial war fought through lies.
It was fought through conventional means like guns and bombs. I don't remember any suicide liars blowing up markets with a lie vest.
At least you got the the fact that there are refugees right so, good job. One out of three isn't as bad as it could be I guess.
Originally posted by GascraftThey're not leaving because the United States is there -- they're leaving because Iraqis are killing other Iraqis.
3.9 million Iraqi people have left their homes in Iraq. 50,000 leave the country each month, while many more are internally displaced.
Wow.. that's a lot of homeless people for an illegial war fought through lies.
Originally posted by MerkWhat do you mean the war wasn't fought illegally?
It wasn't illegal for the countries that fought in the war.
It was fought through conventional means like guns and bombs. I don't remember any suicide liars blowing up markets with a lie vest.
At least you got the the fact that there are refugees right so, good job. One out of three isn't as bad as it could be I guess.
Did the US have the second UN mandate? No. So it was illegal according to the international treaties the US has signed up to.
Did they use chemical weapons? Well...they used depleted uranium...
Did they use mines? Well...yeah...they did use cluster bombs...
It reeks so badly of illegality it makes me want to snort coke.
Originally posted by shavixmirThis is where you're wrong. The U.N. does not govern the U.S. The U.S. Congress and Executive signed a bill into law. Hence, the U.S. acted legally.
What do you mean the war wasn't fought illegally?
Did the US have the second UN mandate? No. So it was illegal according to the international treaties the US has signed up to.
Did they use chemical weapons? Well...they used depleted uranium...
Did they use mines? Well...yeah...they did use cluster bombs...
It reeks so badly of illegality it makes me want to snort coke.
We don't classify DU as a chemical weapon.
We haven't outlawed cluster bombs, etc.
Every nation makes their own decision on when or when not to use force.
Edit: Besides, since when does someone need a reason to snort coke?