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Statement of Policy Regarding Iraqis and Others
Displaced in and outside Iraq
Prepared on the occasion of the International Conference convened
by UNHCR to address the humanitarian needs of refugees and internally
displaced persons inside Iraq and in neighbouring countries
Geneva, 17 - 18 April 2007
As an international Catholic organization dedicated to refugees
and migrants and providing substantial services to vulnerable
refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, ICMC welcomes this
international conference.
Representing 172 members worldwide, ICMC proposes 5 points
to the conference:
- The paramount need is to create conditions in Iraq that
will enable people to return. A prerequisite to regional
stability, this requires more than humanitarian action: it requires
a comprehensive political solution that engages all parties.
- Humanitarian action is an essential part of a comprehensive
political solution. With over 4 million people displaced
in unsustainable conditions both inside and outside of Iraq,
and as many as 50,000 more being displaced each month,
it is urgent for the international community as a whole to act
-massively- and now.
- A number of States are already part of the humanitarian
response. The people and governments of Jordan, Syria and
Lebanon are carrying the greatest share of that response, and
we respect and commend them. We applaud the States that have
opened and kept their borders open to people fleeing from Iraq,
the States that have funded emergency and life support services
to the displaced both in and outside Iraq, and States that have
begun welcoming asylum seekers and refugees from the region.
- States with capacity must offer more, and more States
must share in the response to relieve the suffering. We
urge the conference and the whole international community to:
- Increase support and possibilities for humanitarian
services to those displaced in and from Iraq, with special
attention to the most vulnerable, including education for
children and health, psycho-social counselling and other
life support services for people who are traumatized, fragilized
families, women, children, the elderly, disabled and sick.
In this regard, we recognize the United States and the European
Union for recent commitments of increased funding for these
services, but clearly much more is needed.
- Ensure access to asylum processes and expanded opportunities
of refugee resettlement for the displaced of Iraq, especially
those with special protection needs. Recent increases in
refugee processing and admissions by the U.S. are a positive,
but small step in this direction.
It is time not only for the US to accept more of the responsibility
for the resettlement of refugees from Iraq but for Europe
and other States as well. We salute Sweden in particular
for its welcome of Iraqi refugees and Chile for its example
in recently accepting Palestinian refugees from Iraq for
resettlement.
Regarding asylum and resettlement, it is important to restate
two fundamental
rights:
- The right of non-refoulement. Given the
current situation in Iraq, we believe that circumstances
are such that the principle of non-refoulement very directly
rules out any form of involuntary return, not only
to the south and central regions but to any part of Iraq
at present.
- The right to seek asylum. We must be emphatic
about the obligation of States and the international community
to ensure that those displaced from Iraq, whether Palestinian,
Chaldean or other Iraqi, have genuine access to
asylum and resettlement processes.
- Humanitarian organizations are key partners in the overall
response, including ICMC.
ICMC has been providing services for many years to Iraqi
refugees and others in the Middle East. Together with Caritas
partners in Jordan and Lebanon and more recently with Caritas
and Terre des Hommes in Syria, ICMC has operated the largest
non-government program in the region offering services to
extremely vulnerable Iraqis.
Moreover, ICMC and its members continue to be active partners
with the UNHCR and resettlement countries in a full range
of resettlement programming around the world, from processing
to pre-departure cultural orientation to the welcome, employment
and integration of refugees in their new countries. ICMC's
regional program in Turkey is presently processing several
thousand Iraqi refugees for resettlement in the US.
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