Needless to say this horror is the responsibility of the U.S. which
will not even grant refugee status to Iraqis whose lives are at risk
because they cooperated with us following our criminal intrusion into
their country. 

Press Release
====================================================================

Iraq: International support urgently needed to address spiralling
refugee crisis
As Jordan prepares to host a new conference on the crisis caused by
the continuing exodus of refugees from Iraq, Amnesty International
today called for urgent international action to assist Syria and
Jordan -- the countries most affected by the refugee flow -- both
financially and by establishing generous resettlement programmes for
the Iraqis in greatest need of protection.

"More than two million Iraqis have now fled the sectarian violence
raging in their country and almost two million others are internally
displaced," said Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International's
Middle East and North Africa Programme. "Most of the refugees have
escaped to Syria and Jordan, placing great demands on these
countries' resources, and threatening a humanitarian crisis that
could engulf the region unless concerted international action is
taken now."

In a new briefing prepared following a visit to Syria, which now
hosts around 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, Amnesty International
praised the authorities for keeping their border with Iraq open
although some 30,000 new refugees are estimated to flow through it
each month.

"The Syrian authorities have responded very positively to the
Iraqis' needs, but they and the Jordanian authorities should not be
left to bear the weight of this crisis alone," said Smart. "It is
vital that states who pledged funds to help at a previous conference
last April honour their commitments, which all too few have done to
date."

Amnesty International said that $US 25 million pledged by Iraq's
government had still not materialised.

"This is a crisis that was made in Iraq, not in Syria or Jordan, and
the Iraqi authorities have a duty now to help its neighbours meet
the needs of Iraqis who have been displaced."

Amnesty International called also for the US, UK and other states
contributing troops to the Multi-National Force (MNF) in Iraq to
follow the lead of the Danish government and provide for the
resettlement of Iraqis whose lives are now at risk because they are
seen to have assisted the foreign forces, as interpreters, drivers
and in other roles.

Last Friday, the Danish government admitted to having secretly
airlifted about 200 translators and other Iraqi employees of its
troops out of Iraq. Most are expected to seek asylum in Denmark. The
US ambassador in Iraq has also called for all Iraqis working in
support of the US government to be offered refugee status.

"Those who have worked with foreign forces are not the only people
at risk," said Smart. "The US, UK, EU and other states that have the
capacity should provide generous resettlement programmes for the
refugees who are most vulnerable and at greatest risk, including
survivors of torture and others who urgently need medical care."

Amnesty International's briefing, released on the eve of an
international conference being hosted by the Jordanian government in
Amman, follows a three week visit to Syria by the organization in
June. The organization's delegates interviewed dozens of Iraqi
refugees, both men and women, who had been tortured and, in some
cases, raped. Most are traumatized, with little hope of receiving
treatment.

Humanitarian assistance reaches a very small minority of Iraqi
refugees in Syria. Many refugees interviewed by Amnesty
International said they received no food and that their savings had
dried up.

Some Iraqi families have even resorted to forcing their daughters to
engage in prostitution to earn money just to survive. Child
prostitution and trafficking of Iraqi children is said to be
growing, to the concern of the Syrian government.

"The situation of Iraqi refugees is dire and worsening by the day,
despite the efforts of the Syrian authorities and local and
international humanitarian organizations," said Smart. "The response
of the international community must go beyond accepting token
numbers of refugees from Iraq -- their assistance must constitute a
significant part of the solution to this terrible crisis."

For further detail regarding Amnesty International's concerns about
Iraqi refugees in Syria, please go to:
http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maahedRabAbbKbb0hg1b/

You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main
text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting Amnesty
International and this footer remain intact. Only the list
subscription message may be removed.