Iraqi Returnees From Syria - Update 3
Many Iraqi families who fled their homes during the past two years to neighboring countries as a result of ethnic and sectarian conflict continue to return to Iraq. The return of externally displaced Iraqi families was not only due to the relative improvement in the security situation, but it was the result of high cost of living and limited employment opportunities in the host countries, difficulty in accessing essential services like health and education, and the new regulations regarding obtaining residence permits in Syria. These new regulations request all Iraqis traveling to Syria to obtain a visa from the Syrian Embassy in Baghdad before attempting to leave Iraq. Visas are only provided to businessmen, tradesmen, physicians and teachers.
A number of externally displaced families returned to Iraq starting mid September after the law enforcement plan became effective and the significant reduction in terrorist attacks. This is in addition to the promises and plan of the Iraqi government to facilitate the return of thousands of externally displaced families through the provision of free travel from Syria to Iraq and financial grant of 1,000,000 Iraqi Dinar for each returning family (these grants are not yet given to the beneficiaries). Moreover, the governmental plan seeks to assist families to re-settle in their original neighborhoods and to compensate those who lost their homes. Many returnee families arrived in Iraq to find their homes destroyed, robbed or occupied by others. Many returnees suffer from poverty, poor health and malnutrition and their homes lack water and electricity.
The role of the Iraqi Red Crescent Organization
The Iraqi Red Crescent assisted the externally displaced families during their stay in Syria and after their return to Iraq. Activities included:
- Providing psychological support to the returnees.
- Carrying out field visits to identify emerging needs and to assess the living conditions of the returnees.
- Including the needy returnee families in the food and relief items distribution plan, with special focus on the families who lost their homes or those who where robbed.
- Carrying out field surveys to update the estimated number of returnees to Iraq.
Source: Iraki Red Crescent: “Iraqi Returnees From Syria - Update 3″ (PDF)
For ease of access we have uploaded copies of this report from the Iraki Red Crescent to our server you can download the report in Arabic or in English as a PDF by following these links. The report can also be downloaded from the Iraki Red Crescent’s site: iraqiredcrescent.org.
Please help Irakis to help Irakis.
The Red Crescent is the only humanitarian organisation working everywhere in Irak. They are part of the international Red Crescent/Red Cross federation and their volunteers and staff serve everyone in Irak. They do not take part in any hostile actions or in arguments related to political, religious, racial or ideological issues.They do not discriminate between nationalities, races, religions or political groups. They aim to remove suffering. They serve sometimes at considerable risk to their own safety. Here is their description of what they face on a daily basis:
Inside Iraq, conditions for the dispossessed are grim. Violence rages, electricity is sporadic, medical care is in short supply, the basics of safe, clean healthy living are out of reach for many. Over 70% of Iraqis have a lack of clean water. Iraq is a rich country but the fledgling Iraqi government has been unable to allocate appropriate government funds to provide much needed aid to the Iraqi people. Thus the battle for Iraq is now a struggle for survival being fought on a daily basis by ordinary Iraqis all over the country.
Source: The Iraki Red Crescent Organisation
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Photo: Iraki Red Crescent Society volunteer holding a newborn baby, Sadr City, Baghdad, Irak.
