In vast numbers, Iraqi refugees remain exiled in Syria, Bassel Oudat reports from Damascus Nearly 1.5 million Iraqis now live in Syria, according to UNHCR figures. They live in various parts of the country, with significant numbers opting for Damascus and the northeastern reaches of the country. The reason for their preference for the border areas, such as Bomkal, Haska, Qamishli and Deir Al-Zur, is historic. Many clans were torn apart by the political borders the Sykes-Picot agreement introduced decades ago. Clans with names such as Tamim, Taghleb, Tayy, Anza and Shomar have members on both sides of the Syrian-Iraqi borders. In Damascus, Iraqis congregate in three main areas. One is Sayeda Zeinab in south Damascus, close to the mausoleum of the prophet's daughter, with an estimated population of 350,000 Iraqis. The second is Jurmana in southeast Damascus, an area known for its strong Druze and Christian presence, where 200,000 Iraqis now live. The third is Barza, a relatively new development in northeast Damascus. In these areas, many of the shops have Iraqi names and you can hear Iraqi accents on every corner. Hassan Hadi, 39, was a national weightlifting and bodybuilding champion back home. He now runs a small gym in Sayeda Zeinab, serving mostly Iraqi immigrants. "The grinding sectarian war pushed us to flee from Iraq. Few athletes were able to pursue their careers. This is wrong. Sports is a form of art, a call for beauty, creativity, and excellence," he said. Iraqis moved into Syria in large numbers in the first three years following the US occupation. Since then the numbers have dropped. They came from all ethnic and denominational strains. Shias, Sunnis, Christians, Turkoman, Assyrians and Arabs, everyone had a reason to leave -- Kurds being the only exception. The Shias tend to live in Sayeda Zeinab, Sunnis in the northeast, and Christians in Jurmana. Syrian authorities initially allowed Iraqi immigrants to enter the country without restrictions. But after the numbers started building up, restrictions were imposed. Only 15 categories of immigrants are now allowed in the country without visa requirements. These include merchants, academics, students, Iraqis married to Syrians, and Iraqis having residence in third countries. Other Iraqis have to acquire a one-month visa for $50, after which they have to leave the country. They are permitted back immediately, but have to pay for another visa. Syrian authorities allow Iraqis to work and start businesses. According to Syrian official sources, Iraqis are operating nearly 10,000 businesses in Syria. Iraqi students can attend Syrian schools and receive state-subsidised medical care. The Syrian government says that it is spending $1.5 billion a year to support the immigrants and has asked donors to help with the costs. It is clear that Syria's faltering economy is feeling the strain. The influx of immigrants sent housing rents soaring. And many Syrians attest that unemployment is on the rise and that the country's ailing infrastructure has been stretched to the maximum. Some Iraqis have started large-scale ventures, believing that their stay in Syria may be long term. A group of Iraqi investors and academics has set up a private university, the Syrian International University for Science and Technology, whose staff is 80 per cent Iraqi. "We decided to stay and work in Syria because of the continued killing, liquidation, and bloodshed to which Iraqi professors are being subjected back home. We prefer to work and settle down in Arab countries rather than go to the West," Marie Homeid, one of the board members of the new university, said. Most Christian Iraqis regard their stay in Syria as short term, and many hope to move on to Europe or the US. Just under 30,000 in number and mostly middle class, they receive regular help from various Christian organisations. Iraqi refugees complain that the UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees) is not doing enough to help them. Although the UNHCR, the Syrian Red Crescent, and several Syrian NGOs offer some relief assistance, the refugees say that they are not getting all the help they need. Some note bitterly that the Iraqi government has done little to help them, aside from thanking the Syrians for their kind hospitality. A source at the Iraqi Embassy in Damascus says that Iraqi refugees have started returning to Iraq partly because security has relatively improved and partly because they are running out of money. Many haven't found work in Syria, and not everyone can afford to pay $50 a month to stay legally in Syria. In late 2007, the Iraqi embassy organised what it called "return journeys", offering refugees free transportation to their hometowns. Nearly 120,000 took up the offer, but some are said to have come back since, mostly because of violence in Iraq. Contrary to some expectations, Iraqis tend to refrain from political activities in Syria. One reason, perhaps, is that the Syrian authorities are watching them closely for any sign of unrest.
