SYRIA: U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres visits Iraqi refugees in Syria.

Record ID: 1529922

  • Title: SYRIA: U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres visits Iraqi refugees in Syria.
  • Date: 9th February 2007
  • Summary: PEOPLE CROWD AT CLOSED GLASS DOOR OF UNITED NATIONS HIGHER COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) OFFICES WOMAN REFUGEE SMALL GROUP OF REFUGEES IRAQI REFUGEE CHILDREN AND PERAMBULATOR IRAQI REFUGEE BOY IN WHEELCHAIR IRAQ REFUGEE WOMEN OUTSIDE RED CRESCENT OFFICES IRAQI REFUGEE WOMEN AND BOY IN GROUP/ WOMAN CRYING
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2007 09:45
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVA844PFF00T6QD58BCCJ2KQXM0F
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres visits Iraqi refugees near Damascus and calls on international community to take on some of the responsibility for the Iraqi refugees that Syria is currently shouldering.

    U.N. Higher Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, on Thursday (February 8) visited Iraqi refugees in Sayydeh Zeinab, near Damascus, to view their living conditions.
    Four million Iraqis have fled their homes as a result of the turmoil in Iraq.
    U.N. officials say that as Syrian and Jordanian resources become overloaded by the stream of people coming over the border from Iraq, the Iraqi refugees face increasing difficulties in enrolling their children in overcrowded schools, obtaining access to basic services such as health care and extending their residency permits.
    Guterres said, "The problem is so huge, the cooperation of everybody is absolutely essential."
    Guterres added that the international community should assume some of the responsibility for Iraqi refugees which countries like Syria were currently shouldering, " We urge international community to be part of this effort because Syria alone cannot stand such a huge effort," Guterres said.
    Out of Iraq's population of 26 million, two million Iraqis have fled to nearby countries or beyond over the years. Jordan and Syria have taken in more than 1.2 million Iraqis in the past few years and the exodus continues.
    Some 1.8 million Iraqis have been uprooted within Iraq's borders, including an estimated 640.000 in the past year, according to the UNHCR.
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