The Iraqi Refugee Crisis

From today's EU Observer comes a substantial report on the refugee crisis:
Iraq and the EU: five years on
20.03.2008 - 09:21 CET By Renata Goldirova
It has been five years since the United States began its military operation dubbed 'Iraqi Freedom'. The war resulted in a deep rift in transatlantic relations, caused a split within the European Union and made Iraqis the single largest group seeking refuge in Europe.
[...] Some estimates suggest that up to one million Iraqis have been killed since 2003, while the financial burden amounts to some $9 billion for London and $845 billion for Washington. Former head of the IMF Joseph Stiglitz has recently estimated the cost to be as high as $3 trillion.

[...] According to fresh numbers released by the UN high commissioner for refugees earlier this week (18 March), asylum requests from Iraqis climbed to 38,286 in 2007, a sharp increase from the 19,375 claims in 2006.
A number of non-governmental organisations have therefore blamed the EU for not doing enough over a major refugee crisis, pointing to the fact that the treatment of Iraqis varies significantly from one member state to another.

For example, Sweden's reception facilities have been under huge pressure, as the Scandinavian country is the only one within the 27-nation bloc granting refugee status or other protection to almost all Iraqi asylum seekers. A total of 9,065 Iraqis applied for refugee status there in 2006, compared to 2,330 the previous year.

The EU "cannot continue to ignore one of the world's major displacement crises," says a statement of a group of eight NGOs, including Amnesty International and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles.

In general, it is estimated that six million people inside Iraq need urgent humanitarian assistance as a result of the conflict. Some 2.5 million are internally displaced, while an additional two million are hosted by neighbouring countries such as Syria and Jordan.
http://euobserver.com/9/25856/?rk=1

Petition for Iraqi Refugees

Urge President Bush to Acknowledge and
Address the Iraqi Refugee Crisis
With more than 4 million Iraqis forced from their homes, fleeing violence and persecution, the current Iraqi refugee crisis is the worst displacement of people in the Middle East since 1948.
The President has yet to even publicly acknowledge this crisis. Tell President Bush to commit to leading the international response to the Iraqi refugee crisis.
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/asylum/lifeline/

The Iraqi Refugee Crisis

This is a five minute job which will bring you great joy because you will help someone. Please sign the petition and let all your friends and coworkers know about this crisis.

Urge Support for the 'Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act'

The "Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act" will lay the groundwork to help the United States develop a comprehensive solution to this crisis. It allows persecuted Iraqis who have close ties to the United States- either through work or through family- to apply directly to our refugee program.

Send a letter to your senators
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/asylum/lifeline/index.asp