Iraqi refugees in the Middle East

Iraqi refugees in the Middle East

Syria, Jordan and Lebanon

April 2008

Situation in Iraq

• Population: 25 mill. • Religion: 97% Islam

and 3% other (mainly Christians and Jews).

• Islam: 60% Shiite, 20% Sunni Arabs and 20% Sunni Kurds (in the North).

Baghdad

60% Shiite

40% Sunni Arabs.

Development March 2003- April 2008

• March 2003: Start of the second Gulf war.

• May 2003: Pres. Bush “Mission accomplished”.

• August 2003: UN headquarter bombed, withdrawal.

• December 2003: Saddam captured

• 2003-2005:

– Some initial optimism after the fall of Saddam lead to the return of 300.000 Iraqis.

– But also widespread sectarian violence, guerilla warfare, suicide attacks, chaos, looting.

• February 2006: The bombing of the Golden Shiite mosque in Samarra lead to a sharp upturn in sectarian violence.

Refugees inside Iraq

• 2.7 mill internally displaced (IDPs)– 2003-2006: 1.2 mill.– 2006-2007: 1.5 mill.

• 2008: Displacement continues in a lower pace.

• Mainly from Baghdad (69%) and Diyala (18%)

• Mainly (82%) women and children

• Mainly (85%) displaced in the Southern or Central Iraq.

• In neighborhood or district controlled by their sect.

• Many IDPs live in rented houses/apartments (59%), collective settlements (22%), with host family (18%), or in tents (1%).

• More than 1 mill is in need of adequate shelter and food.

• Around 300.000 have no access to clean water.

• In 2007 UNHCR distributed 140.000 blankets, 50.000 mattresses, 20.000 stoves, 15.000 lanterns, 14.000 plastic sheets, 6.000 tents etc.

• 2 international staff + 20 national staff in 7 locations provide basic assistance.

Refugees outside Iraq

• 2.2 mill refugees in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, and Iran.

• Syria (1.5 mill) and Jordan (500.000) carry most of the burden.

• Many Sunni Arabs and ethnic minorities

• Western countries receive a small portion.

Refugees: basic needs?

• Non-refoulement

• Physical safety

• Residence and work permit

• Legal protection (detention etc)

• House, food and water

• Social assistance (incl. school)

• Health services

Permanent solutions

• Repatriation (to home country)?

» Voluntary repatriation: Some return (about 800-900 pr day)

» Economic reasons, check or sell property (“Go and see” visits)

» Follow up with family members

» To be released from detention in Lebanon or other countries

» No minority return

• Local integration (in host country)?

• Resettlement (in a third country)?

Protection “climate” in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon

• Human rights record in the Middle east.

• Syria, Jordan and Lebanon not ratified 1951 Refugee convention (144 states signed)

• No asylum system

• Illegal or “tolerated” stay

• Few local NGOs dealing with human rights (mainly humanitarian assistance).

• Political tension and instability (Lebanon)

• Local population, rising prices (Syria).

The Role of UNHCR

• Protection and assistance to refugees

• Policy of non-return (prima facie refugee status) for all Iraqis from Central and Southern Iraq

• Registration • Important first step: to be of concern to UNHCR• Interview, collect personal information, assess specific needs and

further action.

• Refugee Status Determination • Interview, written assessment, criteria for refugee status in art. 1 A of the

1951 Refugee Convention.

• Resettlement: Who do we look for?

Resettlement

Traditional criteria:

- Vulnerable groups (Women-at-risk, children-at-risk, elderly, medical needs, victims of torture)

- Legal and Physical Protection needs (risk of detention, refoulement)

• UNHCR refer 20.000 Iraqi refugees pr year, mainly to US, Canada, UK, Australia, Den/Swe/Nor.

• In 2008: 25.000

• So far in 2008: 5000 Iraqis have been submitted and 1.150 have departed.

Monthly Referrals Iraqis & Departures to US

1952

982

3110

1867

1206

972

1369

15831435

980 998

2879

19 1 163 57

529

889

450362

245375

444

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Feb/Mar April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

2007 - 2008

No

# Ir

aqis

UNHCR Referrals to US Departures to US

Cumulative Referrals & Departures to US

19522934

6044

7911

911710089

11458

13041

1447615456

16454

19333

19 20 21 84 141670

15592009 2371 2616 2991

3,435

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

Feb/Mar April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

2007 - 2008

No

# Ir

aqis

UNHCR Referrals to US Departures to US (IOM)

• Legal protection

• Challenge detention or deportation orders in court.

• Social assistance

• Community centers• Outreach – mobile teams• Social counseling• Home visits• Public and private school enrollment for children• Private school fees, books, uniforms etc.• Vocational training

• Medical assistance

Mixed refugee population

• Urban refugee population (live in Damascus, Amman, Beirut or other cities)

• Vulnerable groups (women, children, elderly)

• Excludable groups (criminals)

• Different needs and rights

• Dealing with expectations from refugees?

.

Syria

• Population: 19 mill.

• 90% Muslim and 10% Christian

• Muslim: 74% Sunni and 16% other Muslim sects (Alawis and Druze)

• Syria is a republic under the secular and authoritarian regime of President Bashar al-Asad.

• 1.5 mill refugees

• 30.000-60.000 each month in 2006-2007

• 165.000 registered with UNHCR

• Average 2.500 refugees registered pr. week.

• 2 months waiting period for registration (urgent cases 1 week)

• Growing numbers, because of increased support from UNHCR.

• Also growing numbers outside Damascus. (Aleppo and Homs).

• 53% Sunni, 22% Shiite and 17% Christian

• Male 52%/Female 48%

• Female principle applicant 22%

• 33% of refugees self-supported for 3 months or less.

• 20% of refugees depend on support from family abroad

• UNHCR: 4.000 ATM cards to the most vulnerable families (18.000 persons) with 100-200 USD pr month. First interviewed by Community Service staff. Will cost 1.5 mill pr. month.

• 1 mill USD distributed to vulnerable women.

• 60.000 refugees received food assistance in Damascus from UNCHR and WFP.

Package: Sugar, wheat, macaroni, tomato paste, black tea and cooking oil.

• UNHCR will also distribute non-food items: mattresses, blankets and bed-sheets. Planned for 150.000.

Iraqi refugees in Damascus

Health situation

• 20% serious medial condition

• Survey December 2007:

– 89% depressed and 82% anxious, – all experienced at least one traumatic event (witnessed shooting, affected by shelling or

rocket attacks, or harassment by militia. – 75% knew someone close who had been killed.

• 16% tortured (mainly by militia), 61% beaten with fists or objects.

• In 2007, UNHCR supported 200.000 health interventions (compared to only 15.000 in 2006)

• UNHCR supported 7 clinics for Iraqi refugees in Damascus and 4 in other parts of Syria – Red Cross and Red Crescent.

• UNHCR provided treatment for 500 cancer patients (one hospital, cost 1 mill USD, surgery for 150 refugees).

Children

• Child at risk 5%

• 40% drop-out among school children

• 10% of children are working.

• UNHCR funded rehabilitation of 100 schools/educational facilities, provide textbooks and uniforms to Iraqi schoolchildren.

• UNHCR supports access to higher education for 300 Iraqi students through scholarship.

• In 2008, UNHCR supports the building of 8 new schools and construction of one floor in a new hospital in Damascus, and expanded capacity in other hospitals.

• Syria allows Iraqi children: 50.000 enrolled by February 2008.

Women

• 5% Woman at risk

• 400 Sexual and Gender based violence (SGBV) cases identified since February 2007.

• Prostitution in Damascus

• UNHCR support 50 Iraqi women in prison and girls (12-17 years old) in Juvenile centers, mainly because of prostitution.

• UNHCR support safe houses in Damascus. In February 2008 a large new safe house opened to accommodate 120 women.

Palestinian refugeesin “No mans land”

• Palestinians fled from Palestine to Iraq in 1948, supported by Saddam Hussein to provoke Israel.

• After his fall there were 35.000 Palestinians

in Iraq. They where perceived to be supporting Saddam and harassed by militia. Today, only 15.000 left.

• 2.700 Palestinian refugees from Iraq

stranded in two camps (Al Waleed and Al Tanf) on the Iraqi side of the border to Syria (“No mans land”)

• Fear of persecution in Baghdad.

• Syria has restricted visa requirements for Palestinians.

• Dessert, high temperatures (60 degrees in the summer) and sandstorms

• Hard conditions, no proper water or sanitation, scorpions and snakes.

• Armed local men demanded part of supplies, threatened international agencies and blocked aid.

• Worried about health situation.12 refugees died in last 14 months.

• 400 km to nearest proper health facility in Iraq. No ambulance, only taxi.

• UNHCR (through implementing partners) provide daily food rations, non-food items and power supply, school (340 students), health care services and medical evacuation, Red Cross provide water and sanitation.

• Resettlement: In 2006, Canada accepted 64 persons. In 2007, Brazil received 107. In 2008, Chile will receive 117 persons. Sudan has offered to take 2000 persons.

Jordan

• Population: 6 mill.

• 93% Sunni Muslims and 6% Christians.

• Constitutional monarchy ruled by King Abdullah Hussein and supported by US and EU.

• 500.000 Iraqi refugees

• Stricter visa-requirements in February 2008. Apply in Iraq, not on the border.

• 52.000 Registered with UNHCR

• 3 days registration waiting period

• Sunni 68%, Shiite 17% and Christians 12%

• Male 55% and Female 45%

• Urban refugee population: Come from Baghdad and live in Amman.

• 40% receive financial support from Iraq

• 22% employed

• 20% female headed households and often among the poorest.

• UNHCR: 2000 families food monthly and 150 persons hot meal daily.

• UNHCR: 7.700 persons received financial assistance in 2007.

• Woman at risk 7%

• Child at risk 5%

• 15% serious health problems

• UNHCR: 40.000 health interventions in 2007.

• 95% said they wished to return if security improved.

• Only 20% concrete plans to emigrate to third country.

• Mainly poor refugees want to emigrate

• Refugees with high level of resources (economically and education) want to return.

Lebanon

• Population: 3.8 mill

• 35% Shiite, 25% Sunni, 25% Christian Maronites

• Lebanon is a parliamentary republic in which the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the leader of the Parliament is a Shiite Muslim.

• Political instability, division between ethnic and religious groups, fear of civil war.

• 50.000 Iraqi refugees

• 10.000 Registered with UNHCR• Registration waiting period: 4-5 days.

• Shiite 57%, Sunni 30% and Christians 12%• Shiite live in Shiite areas, Sunni in Sunni areas and Christians in Christian areas.

• Male 70% and Female 30%• 6% female principle applicant • Women at risk 1.5%• Child at risk 2.5%

• 10% important health problems• UNHCR supported 2.800 health interventions and 2.900 psychological intervention• UNHCR opened a new rehabilitation center for victims of torture and violence in Dec 2007.

• More than 50% never feel safe in Lebanon. • 580 in detention because of illegal entry or stay (or overstayed their visa) and 50% detained

beyond the period of their original sentence. • Detention: will be released if return “voluntary” to Iraq. • Major break through in February 2008: Recognize Iraqi refugees. Release from detention.

Residence and work permit.

Conclusions

• Flee from violence (traumatic events). Want to return if safe.

• Neighboring countries carry most of the burden.

• Seek their ethnic group in country of asylum

• Women & children left behind. Single men move on (Lebanon).

• Mixed refugee population – different background, different needs, different status.

• Targeted response (Syria: ATM cards to urban refugee population)

• Deal with expectations from refugees (assistance and resettlement).

• Local integration and repatriation. Resettlement only for a small minority.

• Difficult protection “climate” (restricted access, human rights violations, detention)

• Realistic approach

• Need to work with local governments and local population – protection principles vs. protection space?

• Resources and donor support • Resettlement countries.

• Work for UNHCR

• the need for young, motivated staff• Work is demanding, but also gratifying!