Recently AFSC sent an Assessment Team to Syria and Jordan. They have written a report on the deepening humanitarian crisis. Below are a number of links both to the full report and to other resources(including an Iraq Speakers Bureau) which we hope you will find useful.

Ruth Seeley

Last week, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees released a survey of Iraqi refugees in Syria. The survey found that one in five of those registered with UNHCR since January 2007 ­ more than 19,000 individuals ­ are registered as "victims of torture and/or violence" in Iraq. The survey also found that,

• 73% had been affected by bombing, shelling, rockets
• 80% had witnessed a shooting
• 68% had been interrogated/harassed by militias or other groups
• 16% had been tortured
• 72% had been eye-witnesses to car bombings
• 75% knew somebody who has been killed
  

These data conform to what the assessment team learned in interviews with Iraqi refugee families in Syria and Jordan.

In the report you will find recommendations for both short term and long term priorities that are now being pursued. We encourage you to also look at our supporting on-line resources. There you will find points on how to talk about the war and occupation, a resource page that provides information on how faith communities and others can support refugee agencies that are resettling Iraqi refugees in the United States and a new Iraq speakers bureau.

Report from the AFSC assessment team to Syria and Jordan

http://www.afsc.org/iraq/refugees/report.htm

The Iraqi Refugees Crisis Home Page

http://www.afsc.org/iraq/refugee-crisis.htm

How to Talk About War and Occupation: A Path Forward

http://www.afsc.org/iraq/a_path_forward.htm

Healing the Wounds of War: Resettling Iraqi Refugees

http://www.afsc.org/iraq/refugees/resettlement.htm

Wage Peace Homepage

http://www.afsc.org/iraq/default.htm

Iraq Speakers Bureau

http://www.afsc.org/iraq/speakers_bureau/default.htm

These campaigns, up-to-date analysis, new resources and updates on the projects in Jordan and Syria will be posted to our new blog site called living beyond borders. Visit now, and come back later.

The Iraqi Refugee Crisis - Blog

http://livingbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

Peter Lems
American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, 19102
Tel: 215/241-7170 | Fax: 215/241-7177
http://afsc.org/Iraq