Recommendations from Refugees International

Here is a link to recommendations that are now being made by Refugees International for Iraqi Refugees. Many of these refugees are Mandaeans who are in very vulnerable situations because of their religious affiliation as neither Jew nor Christian nor Muslim.

Iraqi Refugees: Time for the UN to Fully Engage

Refugees International recommends:

The United Nations:

• The Secretary General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator take a leadership role in directing cooperation between UN agencies, the establishment of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the region, and effective country team management.
• Operational agencies, such as UNICEF, the World Food Program, and the World Health Organization, make responding to Iraqi refugees’ needs a priority of their work in countries hosting Iraqis; coordinate increased activities and appeals with UNHCR; and establish contingency plans to respond to the refugee crisis in the medium term.
• UN country teams in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon make responding to the Iraqi refugee crisis a priority; better coordinate the overall UN response in each country; and join UNHCR in advocating with host governments to respect the rights of Iraqi refugees.
• OCHA immediately establish a presence in the region to provide information and coordination support to UN agencies responding to the needs of Iraqi refuges.

Donor governments:

• Fully fund all current and future UN appeals to respond to the Iraq displacement crisis;
• Engage directly with individual UN agencies and insist on their greater involvement in the region.