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More than 4 Million displaced by Iraq War |
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Thursday, 07 June 2007 |
The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees says 4.2 million
people have been displaced due to the Iraq war.
Jennifer Pagonis, a spokeswoman for UNHCR, said Tuesday in Geneva millions have
fled their homes seeking refuge either inside the country or beyond its borders
as the situation deteriorates.
The reason for the announcement Tuesday was the U.N. agency's plea for countries
to do more to help.
"The situation in Iraq continues to worsen, with more than 2 million Iraqis now
believed to be displaced inside Iraq and another 2.2 million sheltering in
neighboring States," she said. "UNHCR is rapidly expanding its operations and
presence in the region, but the magnitude of the crisis is staggering."
Calls for increased international support for governments in the region have so
far brought few results, and access to social services for Iraqis remains
limited, the agency said, noting most of the burden is being carried by Jordan
and Syria.
"Recognition rates of Iraqis in various countries outside the region,
particularly in Europe, remain low," Pagonis said. "UNHCR repeats its call for
all borders to remain open to those in need of protection."
Some 85 percent of the displaced are in the central and southern regions, with
the bulk of them from Baghdad and surrounding districts.
Since February 2006 an estimated 820,000 people have been displaced, "including
15,000 Palestinians who have nowhere to go," Pagonis said.
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