Press Release

Monday 15 January 2007

UNHCR appeals for support for Iraqi refugees

STOCKHOLM – Reports on growing child labour problems, women forced to resort to prostitution and other serious social problems have made UNHCR in increasingly concerned about the situation of refugees fleeing from the escalated violence in Iraq. Neighboring countries are finding it difficult to cope with large numbers of displaced Iraqis and some are unable to provide basic services. Situation is even worse for persons having stayed within the Iraqi borders.

“There is an immediate need to identify and register the most vulnerable among the displaced so they can get the support they need,” Paal Aarsaether, spokesman for UNHCR’s regional office for the Baltic and Nordic countries, said.

UNHCR and its partners estimate that out of a total population of 26 million, some 1.7 million Iraqis are currently displaced internally and up to 2 million others have fled to nearby countries, mainly to Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon. While many of them were displaced before 2003, increasing numbers of Iraqis are now fleeing escalating sectarian, ethnic and generalised violence.

“More international help is needed to ensure that neighbouring states already struggling to cope with large numbers of Iraqis will continue to keep their borders open to those in need of refuge. Many of the host governments are unable to provide basic services. In Syria, some 30 percent of Iraqi children are not attending school; 4 percent of all Iraqis are disabled; and over 10 percent of Iraqi families are headed by women,” Aarsaether said.

UNHCR is now working to ensure effective protection and assistance for up to 200,000 of the most vulnerable Iraqis in nearby countries, nearly all of them in urban areas such as Amman and Damascus.
UNHCR appeals to private individuals, organizations and companies in the Nordic and Baltic countries for support UNHCR’s relief work in Iraq and surrounding countries. Those who wish to give their support can do so by donating money to the following bank accounts and marking their contribution “UNHCR Iraq Situation”.

• Denmark: 2040-0001 443 194
• Finland: 800013-223667
• Norway: 6005.07.33125
• Sweden: 452-1431

Donations can also be made online at:

www.unhcr.org/donate

More details on the UNHCR operation in Iraq can be found at www.unhcr.org

For more information, please contact spokesperson Paal Aarsaether, UNHCR
Regional Office for the Baltic and Nordic Countries, in Stockholm on tel. +46 8 457
48 86 or e-mail aarsaeth@unhcr.org. 

After office hours and on weekends, UNHCR’s Press and Information officer on duty
in the Baltic and Nordic countries can be reached on mobile +46 70 899 0169.