Leadership Council for Human Rights

~ Feet in the mud, head in the sky ~

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Iraq promises $25 million in aid for refugees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) held a two-day conference this week to bring Iraq’s humanitarian crisis to the forefront of the international community’s attention. During the conference, which ended yesterday, the Iraqi government pledged $25 million to assist Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan in the form of education, health care and housing assistance, according to a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty article the same day.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Gutteres hailed the pledge as a “major step forward to allow for people to keep their hope alive.” He also said the step is a “major change in the pattern of relations in the region and in the prospects for refugees in the area.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon opened the conference by urging U.N. member states to pledge additional assistance. Iraq’s neighbors should also maintain open borders, he added.

For the full article, click here.

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