What Caused the Surge in Iraqi Refugees?

The Middle East has been a region of conflict for decades. Iraq, in particular, has experienced its share of turmoil in the form of dictatorship, sectarian violence, and war. The ongoing conflict in Iraq has had a profound impact on the country’s citizens, many of whom have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety and stability. In this article, we will explore the factors that have caused the surge in Iraqi refugees.

What is a Refugee?

Before we dive into the causes of the surge in Iraqi refugees, it’s important to understand what a refugee is. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), a refugee is “someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence.” Refugees are individuals who are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin due to fear of persecution.

The UNHCR estimates that there are over 26 million refugees worldwide, with the majority of them originating from Syria, Afghanistan, and South Sudan. Iraq is also home to a significant number of refugees, with an estimated 334,000 refugees at the end of 2020.

The Conflict in Iraq

The conflict in Iraq began in 2003 when the United States and its allies invaded the country to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein. The war lasted for over a decade and resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 Iraqis and thousands more injured. Although the conflict officially ended in 2011, Iraq remains a volatile and unstable country.

The Fall of Saddam Hussein

The fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime created a power vacuum in Iraq, which created an opportunity for extremist groups such as ISIS to rise to prominence. The power vacuum also led to widespread sectarian violence between the Sunni and Shia populations in Iraq.

Sectarian Violence

The sectarian violence in Iraq is primarily between Sunnis and Shias, who both make up a significant portion of Iraq’s population. Sunnis make up around 20% of Iraq’s population, while Shias make up around 60%. The remaining 20% of the population is made up of Kurds and other ethnic and religious groups.

The sectarian violence in Iraq reached its peak in 2006 and 2007. During this time, there were numerous bombings, suicide attacks, and roadside bombings, which resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqis. The violence was primarily sectarian in nature, with Sunnis and Shias attacking each other’s neighborhoods, homes, and places of worship.

ISIS

The rise of ISIS in Iraq was a major factor in the surge of Iraqi refugees. ISIS, which stands for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is a radical Islamist group that aims to create an Islamic state in the region. The group was initially formed in Iraq during the US occupation in 2006 and later expanded into Syria.

Politically, before the United States invaded Iraq in 2001, Iraq was ruled by the Baath party led by Saddam Hussein, who was forced out of power by the United States. While Hussein was in power, a person might have had no choice but to become a political refugee, fearing for their lives in the face of the brutality that may have been brought upon them.

In 2008, despite the fact that Saddam was no longer in power and the number of persons who were forced to become a political refuge, uprooting and endangering their spouses and refugee children, was all but gone, Iraq has still considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world due to the fact that the people of Iraq still faced violent opposition from those who were still in favor of the previous political system, even though 63% of eligible voters voted in the first ever political election that was considered democratic. America still has troops stationed in Iraq as a way of calming the violence that still takes place on a regular basis.

One ethnic group that makes up roughly 17& of Iraq’s population is known as the Kurds. The Kurds have often been known to have many persons claiming to be political refugees. Children also are commonly refugees with their families. Due to tensions between neighboring areas, the Kurds have found themselves to be targets for many political attacks; therefore, a Kurd is often forced to become a political refugee.

Although Iraq has more political freedom now, there are still a very large number of displaced Iraqis: a political refugee from Iraq may reside in any nearby country. An Iraq political refugee may be scared to return to Iraq due to the unstable conditions caused by war and the complete political change. They also may be afraid to return their families who left with them including wives and refugee children.

Currently, the United Nations is working with the Iraq government in order to create safer conditions for any political refugee to return to Iraq. However, many feel that the government has failed to be realistic about the current political, economic, and social conditions in Iraq. The number of political refugees in Iraq has always increased with each war that has taken place there.

The Struggles of Iraqi Refugees

The Struggles of Iraqi Refugees: A Heartbreaking Reality

In recent years, the world has witnessed an alarming surge in the number of refugees around the globe, fleeing their homes due to different reasons such as war, persecution, economic and social hardships, among others. Among these refugees are the Iraqis, who fled their country due to decades of war, sectarian conflict, and political instability.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of Iraqi refugees worldwide has exceeded 4.4 million; constituting one of the largest refugee populations globally. This figure does not include the thousands of Iraqi internally displaced persons (IDPs) who live in dire conditions within Iraq.

The Struggle of Iraqi Refugees: The Impact of War

Iraqis have been fleeing their homes in large numbers since the 1980s due to political instability and economic hardships, but it was the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that had the most significant impact on the refugee crisis. The invasion led to a massive displacement of Iraqis, primarily due to the sectarian violence that arose in the aftermath of the war. The conflict between various religious and ethnic groups led to an increase in targeted killings, kidnappings, and bombings, triggering another round of displacement.

The situation was compounded further by the rise of terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). These groups carried out attacks on civilians and government institutions, leading to a further displacement of Iraqi citizens. The complexity of the conflict and the ongoing political instability in Iraq ensures that the number of refugees continues to increase.

The Challenges Faced by Iraqi Refugees

The struggle of Iraqi refugees begins even before they flee their homes. They face a difficult decision to leave everything familiar behind, including family, friends, and belongings. Once they leave, they face many challenges and struggles to reach safety in another country.

Many Iraqi refugees start their journeys by taking dangerous routes, such as crossing borders illegally, and traveling in overstuffed boats. They face many dangers along the way, such as theft, violence, and exploitation by smugglers. Even if they reach their destination safely, they still face many challenges.

The first challenge is finding a place to stay. Iraqi refugees often arrive in their host countries with little more than the clothes on their backs, and no money or resources. They need to find a place to stay, either with relatives or friends or in a refugee camp. The conditions in refugee camps are often cramped and unhygienic, and the residents have limited access to food, water, and medical care.

Another significant challenge faced by Iraqi refugees is getting their status in the host country recognized. It can be a long, complex, and uncertain process, and even if they are granted refugee status, the benefits they receive may be limited.

Iraqi refugees also face many social and cultural challenges. They may be discriminated against due to their religion, ethnicity, or nationality. They may struggle to adapt to the new culture, customs, and language of their host country. They may also experience social isolation and feelings of loneliness.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Iraqi Refugees

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the already challenging situation of Iraqi refugees. The pandemic has disrupted supply chains, leading to shortages of food, medicine, and other essential items. Movement restrictions have made it difficult for refugees to find work and access social services.

The closure of borders and travel restrictions has also made it challenging for refugees to reunite with their family members, exacerbating the already high levels of loneliness and isolation. The pandemic has posed significant challenges to the mental health of Iraqi refugees, who already have high levels of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The UNHCR has been working with governments and aid organizations to provide support to refugees affected by the pandemic. They have been providing food assistance, medical care, and hygiene supplies to refugees. They have also been advocating for the inclusion of refugees in national COVID-19 response plans.

The Way Forward

The situation of Iraqi refugees is a heartbreaking reality that requires global attention and support. Governments and aid organizations need to work together to provide assistance to refugees, both inside and outside Iraq. The international community should recognize the efforts of host countries in providing assistance to refugees and provide funding to support these efforts.

The UNHCR calls for respect for the rights of refugees, including their right to protection, access to education, and health care. They also call for greater support for resettlement and integration programs.

Conclusion

The struggle of Iraqi refugees is a heartbreaking reality that requires urgent attention and support. The impact of war, political instability, and terrorism has led to the massive displacement of Iraqi citizens, who have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in other countries. The challenges they face are immense, ranging from finding a place to stay to getting their status recognized in their host country. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges, making the situation even more difficult.

The international community needs to work together to provide assistance and support to Iraqi refugees. Governments and aid organizations must recognize the efforts of host countries in providing assistance to refugees and provide funding to support these efforts. The UNHCR calls for the respect of the rights of refugees, including their right to protection, access to education, and health care. Greater support for resettlement and integration programs is also needed.

We cannot ignore the plight of Iraqi refugees. They deserve our attention, our support, and our compassion. We must act now to help alleviate their suffering and restore their dignity.

Iraqi refugees

Since the United States went to war with Iraq in 2001, it has been considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world. In 2007, it was named one the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world. Well over 1.8 million Iraqi refugees were displaced from their homes, while an additional 100,000 have chosen to flee to the dangerous nearby countries of Jordan and Syria.

United States politicians and Iraqi refugee advocates have demanded a United States increase in Iraqi refugee funding, particularly Iraqi refugees who cooperated with American forces despite the danger in which the assistance placed them.

Officials had predicted an Iraqi refugee explosion following the start of the war; instead that explosion came in 2007, with the number of Iraqi refugees seeking access to the United States skyrocketing. Increased inter-fighting amongst religious groups in Iraq has been said to be one of the causes for the increase in Iraqi refugees seeking entry to the United States. This followed an abnormally high number of violent attacks in 2006.

In recent years, Iraqi refugee numbers have boomed, with two million Iraqi refugees fleeing the country. Most Iraqi refugees have not received legal status in any of the countries they have fled to, particularly Jordan and Syria, despite the danger that is to be rampant in those countries. Like many refugees, Iraqi refugees have been forced to trade one dangerous area for another. There are hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees that have fled to these areas despite the lack of protection. Most do not have the ability to return home.

According to the United Nations, Iraqi refugees have had little to no resources at their disposal, including lack of health care, food, and educational programs for children. Democrats in the United States have argued that to deny Iraqi refugees, particularly the ones who helped American forces, access to the country would be along the lines of demoting an employee even though their work performance has been exceptional.