GENEVA: The United Nations is holding a two day conference in Geneva to focus attention on the plight of Iraqi refugees. More than 2 million Iraqis have fled to neighboring countries and almost that many again are displaced inside Iraq. Antonio Guterres, High Commissioner of the UN Refugee Agency chaired the conference scheduled to end April 18. He was joined at the opening session by UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes; UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Iraq Ashraf Qazi; and the Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Angelo Gnaedinger. Several other Iraqi officials attended along with Iraqi NGO representatives. "UNHCR has always been working closely with the governments of the region including the Iraqi government, said Marwa Abdel Fattah, Cairo's UNHCR external research assistant. "However, this is the first time that UNHCR invites such a large group of people with regards to the issue of Iraqi refugees. More than 450 participants from at least 60 nations attending the conference in Geneva listened to Antonio Guterres, High Commissioner of the UN's Refugee Agency, who spoke about the humanitarian needs of refugees and internally displaced people in Iraq and the wider region. Although the world is aware of the military and political situation in Iraq, the UNHCR fears that increasing humanitarian needs are not. In fact, the UNHCR has seen some 300,000 Iraqis return home to begin rebuilding their lives since 2003. "But that initial return trend has dramatically reversed itself since 2005/06, particularly since the Samara bombing in February 2006, Abdel Fattah said. The explosion of the Shia Grand Mosque in Samara last February triggered a new phase of sectarian violence to intentionally derail talks on the formation of a national unity government. With approximately 35,000 Iraqis killed last year, now even larger numbers of civilians are leaving the country. "Spiraling levels of sectarian, political and criminal violence, dwindling basic services, loss of livelihood, inflation and uncertainty about the future have all contributed to an exodus now estimated at 40,000 to 50,000 a month fleeing their homes inside Iraq, he said. Abeer Etefa, UNHCR's Cairo regional public information officer told The Daily Star Egypt, "The conference is humanitarian in nature because we need something designed as a forum for awareness, advocacy and ongoing action on specific humanitarian needs. With Iraq having one of the highest media profiles of current events, the High Commissioner calls it the least understood humanitarian crisis. Although the conflict s political and military aspects are well covered, Guterres worries about what little attention has been given to the humanitarian tragedy. In response, representatives of governments, international organizations and civil society are being asked for their crucial support. The magnitude of the problem ranks as the most significant displacement in the Middle East since the events of 1948. Many Iraqis were displaced prior to the fall of the previous regime in 2003. Between 2003 and 2005 more than 300,000 Iraqis returned home to begin rebuilding their lives, he added. But the trend has significantly changed particularly since the Samara bombing in February 2006. UNHCR statistics show that 750,000 people have fled their homes since that incident and up to 50,000 more are displaced each month. "If this massive population movement has gone largely unnoticed, it is partly because most of those fleeing are not going to highly visible camps, but are being absorbed by host communities, in Iraq and in neighboring states, Guterres said. In reference to Syria, Jordan and other neighboring countries, the Iraqi refugee crisis is the largest urban conflict the UNHCR has ever dealt with, Abdel Fattah confirmed. "Neighboring countries are struggling with the burden of having to accommodate civilians fleeing from Iraq and the suffering of the displaced continues to grow. UNHCR sees the conference in Geneva as a step in establishing dialogue on the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. Not only do the dramatic humanitarian needs of the Iraqis and the challenges faced by host countries require urgent support, but also other integral means of assistance. "That includes financial, economic and technical support, as well as expanded resettlement opportunities for the most vulnerable, Guterres said. "The generosity of host countries must be matched by that of the entire international community. Countries in the region were also urged by the High Commissioner to provide protection for Iraqis. "Borders should stay open. Surrounding states should provide access to basic services, said Etefa. Closing the first day of the conference was Guterres' demand for immediate support "to prevent protracted displacement and an exile without end.
