UN refugee chief appeals for $280 million to assist vulnerable Iraqis

The United Nations refugee chief today announced an inter-agency appeal for $280 million to support over 190,000 Iraqi refugees living in the region, the majority in Syria and Jordan.

“I appeal to donor governments to recognize the critical needs of Iraqi refugees, particularly those who are becoming more vulnerable by the day,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres, who just returned from a visit to Iraq.

The Regional Response Plan for Iraqi Refugees brings together the plans of 40 international and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are supporting Iraqi refugees in 12 countries, including Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Iran and the six Gulf States.

It highlights the needs of over 190,000 Iraqi refugees registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the region, and includes a number of programmes that support the education and health systems of these host countries.

According to UNHCR, 34 per cent of the Iraqi refugees registered with the agency are considered to be vulnerable, including thousands of people with critical health conditions and a significant number of female-headed households.

The majority of Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan fled more than three years ago. Many have found it challenging to find work, making them reliant on ever dwindling savings and the support offered by international organisations and local NGOs.

While over 89,000 Iraqi refugees have returned to Iraq in the past three years, the rate of return has slowed recently and new asylum-seekers continue to register with UNHCR in neighbouring countries.

Mr. Guterres highlighted the continued friendship and solidarity offered by host governments to Iraqi refugees, but noted that the burden on host communities and host governments in the region is “enormous.”

“It is essential that the international community support humanitarian efforts to help the most vulnerable refugees.”

He also thanked the countries that have offered resettlement to over 60,000 Iraqi refugees that have departed to new homes since 2007. UNHCR estimates that another 60,000 are in need of resettlement.