Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Media: The Associated Press
Byline: By FRANK JORDANS
Date: 20 October 2006
Body:
GENEVA_More than 750,000 Iraqis have fled their homes since the U.S.-led
invasion in 2003, more than half of them since an increase in sectarian
bloodshed at the start of this year, the U.N. refugee agency said Friday.
The overall number is likely to be much higher, said Ron Redmond, chief
spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. The agency has
concluded that 754,000 displaced Iraqis remain in the country, while tens of
thousands more have sought refuge abroad.
"We remain extremely concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation in
Iraq and the ongoing displacement this is creating both inside and outside
Iraq," Redmond told reporters.
Most of those who have fled their homes came from central areas of the
country around Baghdad, Redmond said.
"There are some in the north and south as well, but the majority are in the
center. A lot of them are going to Sunni areas, or Shia areas, where they
have family, relatives, other social groups that will help them and take
care of them," Redmond said.
Nearly half of those who have fled to other areas within Iraq _ or about
365,000 people _ have left since sectarian fighting intensified after the
bombing of an important Shiite shrine in the city of Samarra in February.
Redmond said the figures were compiled by UNHCR staffers from information
provided by government offices and other aid agencies.
The flow of refugees into neighboring countries also increased sharply after
the Samarra attack, but the governments have so far failed to provide the
agency with overall numbers, Redmond said.
Redmond told The Associated Press that at least 40,000 Iraqis have arrived
in Syria every month for the last four months.
UNHCR estimates that there are 1.6 million Iraqis in other countries in the
region, mainly Jordan and Syria, but some of those have been outside Iraq
for more than a decade.
Byline: By FRANK JORDANS
Date: 20 October 2006
Body:
GENEVA_More than 750,000 Iraqis have fled their homes since the U.S.-led
invasion in 2003, more than half of them since an increase in sectarian
bloodshed at the start of this year, the U.N. refugee agency said Friday.
The overall number is likely to be much higher, said Ron Redmond, chief
spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. The agency has
concluded that 754,000 displaced Iraqis remain in the country, while tens of
thousands more have sought refuge abroad.
"We remain extremely concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation in
Iraq and the ongoing displacement this is creating both inside and outside
Iraq," Redmond told reporters.
Most of those who have fled their homes came from central areas of the
country around Baghdad, Redmond said.
"There are some in the north and south as well, but the majority are in the
center. A lot of them are going to Sunni areas, or Shia areas, where they
have family, relatives, other social groups that will help them and take
care of them," Redmond said.
Nearly half of those who have fled to other areas within Iraq _ or about
365,000 people _ have left since sectarian fighting intensified after the
bombing of an important Shiite shrine in the city of Samarra in February.
Redmond said the figures were compiled by UNHCR staffers from information
provided by government offices and other aid agencies.
The flow of refugees into neighboring countries also increased sharply after
the Samarra attack, but the governments have so far failed to provide the
agency with overall numbers, Redmond said.
Redmond told The Associated Press that at least 40,000 Iraqis have arrived
in Syria every month for the last four months.
UNHCR estimates that there are 1.6 million Iraqis in other countries in the
region, mainly Jordan and Syria, but some of those have been outside Iraq
for more than a decade.
