Iraq War Refugees
Like most people whose hometown is destroyed by bombs, and then ravaged by civil war and occupation without end, Iraqis are getting the hell out. When Bush said he wanted to liberate the Iraqi people, I don’t think this is what he had in mind.
Nevertheless, in what is the largest population migration since Palestinians were displaced by the creation of Israel in 1948, over 2 million Iraqis have ditched their country to find a new home in another nation. Add to that the 1.8 million who have migrated to new homes within Iraq, and that’s 3.8 million who’ve left their homes.
Ten Times Worse Than Katrina
In comparison, Hurricane Katrina displaced 374,000 people from New Orleans. Remember the Katrina refugees? Scattered across 34 states, sleeping in cars and coliseums and campgrounds and all those problematic FEMA trailers?
There are over 10 times as many Iraq refugees as Katrina refugees.
Sweden Number One Destination
Where do 2 million people go? Syria, a country of only 19 million, has taken in 1.2 million Iraq refugees. Jordan has taken in 700,000. Egypt has received 120,000, Iran 50,000, Lebanon 40,000.
To officially move to another country, refugees must file papers to seek asylum. Since the war began, the United States has opened its arms to a grand total of…less than 500 people. Sweden, a country that was never in the “Coalition of the Willing,” took in more than 9,000 Iraqi asylum-seekers last year alone.
Iraqi refugees going to Sweden usually have to buy $10,000 tickets from smugglers and often get robbed during their journey. Many refugees are doctors and other educated, middle-class members of society. Some, able to afford only one ticket, must leave wives and children behind until they can earn enough money in their new country to smuggle their remaining family out.
More Refugee Aid Needed
Many people in Sweden wonder why the United States and England—the countries that invaded Iraq—don’t offer more help to the refugees created by the Iraq War.
While the U.S. continues to spend $8 billion a month for war, the Bush administration has only budgeted $20 million this year for refugee assistance. That’s a little over $5 per refugee for an entire year.
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