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Refugees' money running out

Money, not better security, is forcing refugees back to Iraq.

By Associatd Press
Published December 15, 2007

BAGHDAD - One-third of Iraqi refugees who fled to neighboring Syria expect their money to run out within three months, the U.N. refugee agency said Friday in a report highlighting what some think is the main reason families are returning to their still-violent homeland.

The report from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, which drew on surveys of Iraqis in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, found that the refugees were most concerned about money, schooling for their children and lack of work.

A U.N. spokeswoman said those worries - not improved security in Iraq - appear to be the driving force behind the decision by thousands of Iraqis to return. And as savings draw down, U.S. and U.N. officials fear, many more could be forced to come back to a country still unready for them.

Mohammed Wamid, a 55-year-old father of eight, including one son he said died at the hands of al-Qaida in Iraq, left Baghdad for Syria in December 2006. He returned about a month ago after depleting his $6,500 in savings.

"We returned because we have no other choice. The government wants everybody to come back, but we know that security is still fragile," he said.

The Iraqi government, eager to claim credit for the decline in violence, offers returnees free transportation to Iraq, provides protection to the bus convoys and gives families $800 each to help with resettling.

But American and U.N. officials warn that a big return of refugees could rekindle sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shiites and that some returnees have found their homes occupied by members of the other Muslim sect. Even the Iraqi government acknowledges it cannot handle a huge influx.

"If we look at the past weeks, people have run out of money and have felt the necessity to return," said Astrid Van Genderen Stort, a UNHCR spokeswoman.

Nearly 2-million Iraqis are thought to have fled to neighboring Arab countries since 2003 to escape the Sunni insurgency and sectarian violence. Most went to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. About 2-million more are thought to have moved to other parts of Iraq.

Iraq developments

U.S. troops killed: The U.S. military on Friday announced the deaths of two American soldiers - one shot to death in Baghdad, the other killed by a roadside bomb south of the capital.

Marine punished: A Marine reservist who killed an Iraqi soldier a year ago was sentenced Friday to a bad-conduct discharge but will serve no more than the 10 months he spent in the brig awaiting his court-martial, a Camp Pendleton, Calif., spokeswoman said. Lance Cpl. Delano Holmes, 22, of Indianapolis, also was reduced in rank to private.

Oil output: Iraqi oil production rose to 2.32-million barrels per month in November, its highest monthly level in about 3 1/2 years, the International Energy Agency said Friday. The agency cited improving security.

Fast facts

Iraq developments

U.S. troops killed: The U.S. military on Friday announced the deaths of two American soldiers - one shot to death in Baghdad, the other killed by a roadside bomb south of the capital.

Marine punished: A Marine reservist who killed an Iraqi soldier a year ago was sentenced Friday to a bad-conduct discharge but will serve no more than the 10 months he spent in the brig awaiting his court-martial, a Camp Pendleton, Calif., spokeswoman said. Lance Cpl. Delano Holmes, 22, of Indianapolis also was reduced in rank to private.

Oil output: Iraqi oil production rose to 2.32-million barrels per month in November, its highest monthly level in about 3 1/2 years, the International Energy Agency said Friday. The agency cited improving security.

[Last modified December 15, 2007, 02:06:04]