| RASIT Royal Academy of Science International Trust |
| Miriam Trust Fund |
| flash appeal for Iraq |
an inspiration of freedom, hope, dignity & self-reliance
| "Tomorrow will be as sweet as Chocolate" Miriam 8 yrs old refugee - Lebanon |
Health care:
Iraqi medical needs are largely unanswered. In Jordan, medical services are
limited to emergency care. Syria gave Iraqis free access to medical services
until 2005; since then they have been required to pay. In Lebanon, all medical
services are private.
Education:
Access to education for children is second greatest need. Although Syria
allows Iraqi children to attend public schools, many families cannot afford the
school supplies and uniform required for their children to attend. The state of
education in Jordan is more restrictive, and is conditioned on availability of
space, if available! Lebanon does not allow Iraqis to attend public schools at
all, forcing parents to enroll their children in private schools with the costs of
tuition, supplies, transportation, and other surviving costs that keep most
children out of schools.
Although there are no official figures, the UNHCR estimates that there are
more than 40,000 Iraqi refugees in Lebanon, of which 30% are children. These
children are not involved in any kind of formal education, with an average of
three years spent out of school.
Jobs:
While many refugees from Iraq come from comfortable backgrounds as they
are the lucky ones able to afford the great expense of leaving the country, all
face challenges that quickly plunge them into a subsistence existence. Many
Iraqi have their savings drained before even leaving the country by paying
ransoms for kidnapped family members. Iraqis resources are being further
depleted by their inability to work legally in host countries. Though most
refugees have marketable skills, having worked as doctors, teachers,
architects, blacksmiths, hairdressers etc, they are barred from practicing their
trade. Further, many Iraqis are afraid to work for fear having their papers
checked and then being detained and then deported. It is worth noting that
hundreds of Iraqis (women and men) are detained in Lebanon, waiting for
deportation.
Housing and Living Circumstances:
Other than an access to job, the number one need of Iraqi refugees is housing
assistance. Partially due to the large influx of Iraqis seeking shelter in limited
housing market, rents in Damascus and Beirut have increased remarkably in
the past three years, and constitute the largest single expense for Iraqi
families.
The average of Iraqi refugee’s home circumstances is pretty desperate. On
average they live in the poorest parts of the poorest areas. It is not
uncommon to find two families, each with 3 or 4 children, living in a single or
double room in Syria and Lebanon. The living conditions are the major lead to
health issues like skin rashes, respiratory problems, tuberculosis, in addition
to psychological problems.
At present conditions for Iraqis in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria are poor. With
no financial income, and no jobs availability, as well as the minimal help
received, led to increasing poor-nutrition related conditions as well other
health problems related to the hygienic issues (as families cannot afford it all
time) in children and adults.
Immigration Status:
None of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria is signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee
Convention, and are therefore not bound to guarantee refugees protection.
Instead, incoming Iraqis are classified as illegal migrants. Iraqis in Lebanon,
Syria, and Jordan are nobody. They are refugees according to UNHCR, but
what rights does that recognition really afford them?
In Lebanon and Jordan, the situation is more difficult for Iraqis. Both countries
are now showing a diminishing tolerance for Iraqi presence. Refugees are
increasingly arrested for illegal presence, imprisoned and forced to choose
between remaining in prison and being deported.
In Lebanon, priced at $4,000 irrespective of nationality, acquiring leave to
remain for longer than a month is expensive. The only way is to find a sponsor,
who can give work and pay for residence permit.
Iraqi medical needs are largely unanswered. In Jordan, medical services are
limited to emergency care. Syria gave Iraqis free access to medical services
until 2005; since then they have been required to pay. In Lebanon, all medical
services are private.
Education:
Access to education for children is second greatest need. Although Syria
allows Iraqi children to attend public schools, many families cannot afford the
school supplies and uniform required for their children to attend. The state of
education in Jordan is more restrictive, and is conditioned on availability of
space, if available! Lebanon does not allow Iraqis to attend public schools at
all, forcing parents to enroll their children in private schools with the costs of
tuition, supplies, transportation, and other surviving costs that keep most
children out of schools.
Although there are no official figures, the UNHCR estimates that there are
more than 40,000 Iraqi refugees in Lebanon, of which 30% are children. These
children are not involved in any kind of formal education, with an average of
three years spent out of school.
Jobs:
While many refugees from Iraq come from comfortable backgrounds as they
are the lucky ones able to afford the great expense of leaving the country, all
face challenges that quickly plunge them into a subsistence existence. Many
Iraqi have their savings drained before even leaving the country by paying
ransoms for kidnapped family members. Iraqis resources are being further
depleted by their inability to work legally in host countries. Though most
refugees have marketable skills, having worked as doctors, teachers,
architects, blacksmiths, hairdressers etc, they are barred from practicing their
trade. Further, many Iraqis are afraid to work for fear having their papers
checked and then being detained and then deported. It is worth noting that
hundreds of Iraqis (women and men) are detained in Lebanon, waiting for
deportation.
Housing and Living Circumstances:
Other than an access to job, the number one need of Iraqi refugees is housing
assistance. Partially due to the large influx of Iraqis seeking shelter in limited
housing market, rents in Damascus and Beirut have increased remarkably in
the past three years, and constitute the largest single expense for Iraqi
families.
The average of Iraqi refugee’s home circumstances is pretty desperate. On
average they live in the poorest parts of the poorest areas. It is not
uncommon to find two families, each with 3 or 4 children, living in a single or
double room in Syria and Lebanon. The living conditions are the major lead to
health issues like skin rashes, respiratory problems, tuberculosis, in addition
to psychological problems.
At present conditions for Iraqis in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria are poor. With
no financial income, and no jobs availability, as well as the minimal help
received, led to increasing poor-nutrition related conditions as well other
health problems related to the hygienic issues (as families cannot afford it all
time) in children and adults.
Immigration Status:
None of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria is signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee
Convention, and are therefore not bound to guarantee refugees protection.
Instead, incoming Iraqis are classified as illegal migrants. Iraqis in Lebanon,
Syria, and Jordan are nobody. They are refugees according to UNHCR, but
what rights does that recognition really afford them?
In Lebanon and Jordan, the situation is more difficult for Iraqis. Both countries
are now showing a diminishing tolerance for Iraqi presence. Refugees are
increasingly arrested for illegal presence, imprisoned and forced to choose
between remaining in prison and being deported.
In Lebanon, priced at $4,000 irrespective of nationality, acquiring leave to
remain for longer than a month is expensive. The only way is to find a sponsor,
who can give work and pay for residence permit.
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