Iraq Refugee Problem - VOA Story

June 20th is International Refugee Day. The United Nations says nearly four million Iraqis have fled from their homes seeking refuge in either safer regions of their country or abroad. And every month at least 40,000 more people are displaced.

The United States faces increasing criticism for not doing more to solve the refugee crisis there or allowing more Iraqi refugees into the U.S. In 2006 the United States allowed only 202 Iraqi refugees into the country.

There is a large Iraqi community in Dearborn, Michigan. It makes up a significant part of the 500,000 Arab-Americans who live in or around the Midwest city of Detroit.

Most of the men at the Karbala Islamic Center, like the vast majority of Iraqis here, came in the early 1990s after the first Gulf War.

Kareem now lives in one small rented room. He wants to bring other family members here. They are now living in Egypt.

This year the Bush administration announced a $20 million increase in funding to support refugee programs. And U.S. State Department Undersecretary Paula Dobriansky said the U.S. would work with the UNHCR, the U.N. High Commission for Refugees, to significantly increase the number of Iraqis allowed into the country.

Limon says so far the government is failing to meet its own goal. The problem she says is partly bureaucratic mismanagement but she also believes the administration wants pro-American Iraqis to continue to help the war effort in Iraq.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Iraq
• war
• refugee
• UN
• Iraqi
• Islam
• Muslim

[Tigris363]

@JohnyFiama are you serious were talking about a real issue and all you care about this your really pathitic you need to grow up.

[Iraqhotty]

@IwillStandFirm shut the hell up you ugly ass piece of shit

[JohnyFiama]

Please change the crazy term "Gulf War" (in the video description) to "Persian Gulf War." I feel offended that you Westerners/Arabs distort historical names. I have not flagged this video. But, I will do so if you continue to use this racist name.

[IwillStandFirm]

They're already starting with the discrimination crap....and they're not even here yet. They need to stay in their country and we need to get out of it.

[IwillStandFirm]

Get them out of our country before they want to make National Muhammad Day in America. They don't deserve our rights, not one bit. Keep them out. Secure our borders.

[imtall58]

There's no government or police force. US soldiers can't run a country. People are fleeing because it's dangerous. Theyre getting shot at, robbed, etc. My cousin was kidnapped. It may sound stupid to you, but if you take away a country's govt, everything goes to shit. I don't blame them for leaving, I would too. Until a working govt is established, nobody is going to want to live there. So please stop bashing the Iraqis. "Taking your country back from the bad guys" isn't as easy as you think.

[Fewarechosen]

You only sent them to get holds over Al-Q for your homeland security.59% proff, 23% OIL, 13% Democracy & 2% other... from the 5% of Americans who care about Iraq.

[Morr6565]

How can you scream discrimination!! We send troops that are getting killed in your country not so you can run over here. But so you can create a great state for yourselfs. You have to take back your country from the bad guys. and let me ask you a question. The guy says to let "the good Iraq's in." HOW CAN WE DO THAT?!?! ASK THEM?