President Bush's much-heralded surge (escalation) of US troops in Iraq has resulted in a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. The surge of ethnic cleansing has made tens of thousands of Iraqis desperate to leave. SInce the 2003 invasion, more than 4 million Iraqis have been displaced, with half of them seeking refuge outside of Iraq. Most of these have found their way to Syria - a charter member of President Bush's "Axis of Evil'. Syria is overwhelmed, and today announced that it can only accept Iraqis with a valid visa - essentially shutting the door.
This chart shows which countries have taken in displaced Iraqis; an interactive version can be found here:
So, according to this data Syria has absorbed 1,200,000 refugees from Iraq. Germany - ridiculed by many in the US for not joining President Bush's "Coalition of the Willing in invading Iraq - has taken in over 51,000. The country responsible for this staggering misery - the United States - has absorbed 6,000, about half as many as tiny Denmark.
But the situation for Iraqi refugees in Germany is hardly secure. The German group Pro Asyl reports that many of these Iraqis face deportation back to their homeland, embroiled in violent civil war that has been exacerbated by the Surge.
About 14,000 Iraqi are subject to deportation from Germany. Due to a lack of air connections and to negotiations on return, Germany has not yet executed deportations on a large scale. Still, the Home Secretaries of the German federal states have attempted to deport Iraqi refugees into North Iraq. As of now, 'offenders' and so-called 'security risks' are due for deportation, although these categories are rather questionable. For example, someone leaving his county without permission or sending money back home to their families in spite of the economic embargo may become an 'offender'. Over and above problematic individual cases, the Home Secretaries are further striving to deport many Iraqi refugees into the war zone. During their meeting in November 2006 they confirmed their aim "to expand repatriations to Iraq as soon as possible".
The United States has abdicated its moral responsibility for the tragedy it has created. Europe needs to step up its assistance:
Iraq is burning, millions of refugees are on the road inside and outside the country - and Germany and most EU countries try to refuse or withdraw protection with political and legal means. The European and particularly the German policy regarding Iraqi refugees contradicts international law and is a disgrace. The countries neighbouring Iraq are forced to deal with the problem. Instead of contributing to the rescue of people from the war zone those in charge are trying to deport people to that very same region and are treating refugees like troublesome petitioners.
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