Iraqi exiles flee Syria’s violence

By Nidhal al-Laithi

 

Azzaman, February 12, 2011

 

Iraqis are fleeing the violence in Syria in their droves with reports noting an increase in attacks targeting them, particularly in the capital Damascus.

 

At least nine Iraqis are reported to have been killed in the Syrian capital with witnesses speaking of attempts at abduction and extortion in a city once thought to be among the most peaceful in the Middle East.

 

There are about one million Iraqi refugees in Syria, who had fled mounting violence in their home country, Iraq.

 

There are no exact numbers on how many exiles have opted to leave Syria, but the authorities in Iraq say they are considering building a refugee camp that will handle about one million Iraqis close to the Syrian border.

 

Many exiles arriving in Iraq say they fear revealing their identity because of questioning by the government.

 

The refugees, speaking on condition of anonymity, said even the highway linking Iraq to Damascus was unsafe and reported several attacks on returning refugees.

 

There are reports of abduction for ransom and in one case an Iraqi family in Syria had to raise $10,000 to free a young boy.

 

Iraqis returning home face a dark future.

 

The government does very little to accommodate them and many of the returnees find that their property had already been confiscated or registered in other person’s names through some murky deal.

 

One Iraqi refugee arriving in Amman from Syria said Iraqi exiles were no longer welcome in Syria.

 

The opposition harasses them because of Baghdad’s supportive attitude of the government in Damascus.

 

The Syria authorities suspect many of them to be aiding the opposition particularly after reports that many Jihadists were crossing Iraq into Syria to fight beside the opposition.

 

Jordan has hardened conditions for Iraqis to stay.

 

An Iraqi can only obtain permission to stay if he or she deposits $8,000 in a Jordanian bank – a sum only few refugees can raise.

 

Despite its meager resource, the U.N. Refugee Agency, UNHCR, is working hard to help, they said.

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