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UNHRC - UN Refugee Agency Press Release
IRAQI GIRL CHILD REFUGEE
Iraqi women, children, entire families have witnessed terrible violence and despair. They have left behind families, homes, belongings, and memories – their entire lives," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres...
http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/478631244.html
Arab League Launches Iraqi
Refugee Fund-Raising and Awareness Campaign
10
January 2008
CAIRO
– The League of Arab States, in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency and other
international organisations, is launching on Friday a major fund-raising and
public awareness campaign called 'Arabs Hand-in-Hand with Iraqis' aimed at
helping displaced Iraqis in neighbouring countries.
"'Arabs
Hand-in-Hand with Iraqis' is first and foremost a show of support and
solidarity to displaced Iraqis. But, we certainly hope and count on the
generosity of Arabs to lend a supporting hand to the most vulnerable of Iraqis
in neighbouring countries," said Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the Cairo-based
League of Arab States.
UNHCR
is helping provide protection and assistance for Iraqi refugees including
education and health care, food aid and direct financial support to the most
vulnerable families. But more needs to be done.
"The
Iraqi people have suffered extreme hardship. Women, children, entire families
have witnessed terrible violence and despair. They have left behind families,
homes, belongings, and memories – their entire lives," said UN High
Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres in a video message to support the
campaign.
"I
appeal to you to support your Iraqi brothers and sisters.... Your voice and
helping hand can make a profound difference," Guterres added.
The
campaign will be launched on Friday with major coverage on Arab satellite
television channels including Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya and the Egyptian Satellite
Channel as well as more than a dozen different channels in the Arab world. The
aim is to raise awareness of the refugees' plight through advertising, feature
stories, documentaries, refugee testimonials and call for donations.
Arab
celebrities, led by popular Arab Iraqi musician Naseer Shamma who is
spearheading the campaign, have joined forces and recorded video messages to
raise awareness about the crisis facing refugees and to appeal to fellow
citizens to donate to the fund-raising campaign.
Shamma
approached the League in October offering to help after watching a documentary
on Iraqi refugees in neighbouring countries. "Ever since I saw this film,
I have not been able to sleep well knowing that many Iraqi families are facing
the harsh winter cold, away from home, unable to afford the cost of feeding
their children and struggling to make ends need," the musician said.
In
September, the League of Arab States in line with a resolution by its member
states, established a special account for governments, private sector and
individuals to contribute funds in support of displaced Iraqis in neighbouring
countries.
In
preparation for the campaign, Shamma visited UNHCR's operation in Syria where
he met some of the estimated 1.4 million Iraqi refugees in the country.
"I
did not know before today that there are many layers [of Iraqi refugees] under
the poverty line. UNHCR has done its share but it is time now for the Arab
people to do their share and support Iraqi refugees," the virtuoso oud
player told a press conference held at the Arab League to announce the
beginning of the fund-raising campaign.
The
UN refugee agency estimates more than 2.2 million Iraqis are displaced inside
Iraq, while over two million refugees have fled to other countries. The
majority of the refugees are in Syria and Jordan, living in urban areas such as
Damascus and Amman. Many of them are running out of money and finding it
increasingly difficult to get by. In addition to direct assistance to some of
the most vulnerable refugees, UNHCR is supporting efforts by governments in the
region which are struggling to cope with the huge numbers of Iraqis who have
strained local resources and infrastructure, including schools and health
systems.
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