Iraq: The facts on displaced persons and refugees

ReliefWeb (press release)

The situation currently facing Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons has very quickly become one of the most pressing humanitarian crises in the world. Prior to the 2003 U.S. invasion, studies predicted that the numbers of internally displaced persons could be as high as 1.8 million, and the number of refugees could reach 2 million. Though many were reluctant to leave for the first few years of the war, the number of Iraqis fleeing their homes swelled dramatically early in 2006 with the bombing of the Shiite Samarra mosque and the sectarian strife that followed. Consequently, the numbers of IDPs and refugees have not only rapidly reached the figures predicted four years ago, but threaten to exceed them. InterAction currently has several member organizations either operating in Iraq and its neighboring countries, or advocating on behalf of the displaced. Drawing on resources from our members, the U.N., and news reports, we attempt to summarize the situation below...

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