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.
| Refugees' Current Situation |
| flash appeal for Iraq |
| Royal Academy of Science International Trust |
| RASIT |
| "Tomorrow will be as sweet as Chocolate" Miriam 8 yrs old refugee - Lebanon |
an inspiration of freedom, hope, dignity & self-reliance
| Royal Academy of Science International Trust Launched in 1968 Serving education & humanity Since 1969 Our commitment forever remains “whenever & wherever there is a human in need, RASIT responds” |
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