Pressure on Iraqi refugees in Syria mounts

Azzaman

Iraqi refugees in Syria are in real dilemma. While the Syrian authorities are apparently unhappy to have them, new Iraqi government directives are adding to their tragedy. Official Syrian statistics show that there are at least 1.3 million Iraqis in Syria. Most of them live in low-income neighborhoods of Damascus and other major Syrian cities. Most of them are poor and have already devoured the little savings they had with them. To return is impossible for many of them as they have nothing left behind. Their crisis started following a visit by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to Syria last month. Until then Iraqis were apparently allowed to overstay their temporary permits of residence without any penalties. Since the visit the rules have changed. Every Iraqi residing in Syria is now required to deposit $2000 with the authorities to stay, a sum the majority of the refugees cannot afford. And the Iraqi embassy in Syria is making the refugees life even harder by refusing to issue or extend validity of passports...

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