Report: Internally displaced being rejected, killed in southern Iraq

A refugee and her child at a displacement camp. Some displaced children are now joining militias for protection or revenge.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in southern Iraq are concerned about the fate of newly arriving internally displaced persons (IDPs), after the authorities in the southern provinces said they could not cope with any more of them.

The NGOs include South Peace Organisation, Keeping Children Alive and the Women's Rights Association.

"Officials in the southern governorates have told us they cannot take in more IDPs as their security cannot be guaranteed," said Mayada Obeid, a spokesperson for South Peace Organisation, based in Basra.

"Police in Najaf and Basra have told us they have reported cases of new IDPs being targeted by militias, and at least seven people have been killed trying to settle in displacement camps," said Obeid.

A senior official in Basra Governing Council, Hassan Abdul-Kareem, told IRIN: "We can no longer ignore the lack of essential supplies in our governorate. Previously displaced families are demanding our assistance and we cannot satisfy even their needs. There are no places for their children in schools, we cannot give them medical care and the price of goods is high."

Read the rest at Reuters/Alternet

Related Link:
Report: UN Secretary General Ban praises 'sacrifices' made by U.S. in Iraq; Says U.S. 'played a considerable part in the stabilization of Iraq'

Related Link:
UN: Refugees now total 4 million, including 2 million 'internally displaced'; 10 of 18 Iraqi governorates rejecting refugees

Related Link:
Some Iraqi Provinces Closing Door to Displaced

Related Link:
Report: Militants force Palestinians to leave Anbar

Related Link:
Report: 160,000 internally displaced Iraqis now in Kurdish north, but prospects bleak and aid insufficient

Related Link:
UN: Iraqis top list of asylum seekers in industrialized countries

Related Link:
Jordan adding visa requirements for Iraqi refugees

Related Link:
Perspective: Palestinian refugees in Iraq stuck in "Catch 22"

Related Link:
Perspective: Life as a Palestinian in Iraq

Related Link:
UN refugee agency 'deeply disturbed' over raid on Palestinians in Baghdad

Related Link:
Iraqi Interior Ministry says raid on Palestinian compound was targeting stolen car ring, not refugees

Related Link:
Kurdish leaders deny deal to allow Palestinians in Iraq safe haven

Related Link:
Jordan tightens rules on Iraqi immigrants

Related Link:
Perspective: War in Iraq Propelling A Massive Migration

Related Link:
Kurdish leaders deny deal to allow Palestinians in Iraq safe haven

Related Link:
Report: Syria tightens access for Iraq refugees under new rules

Related Link:
Report: 1.5 million Iraqis now internally displaced, most due to threats

Related Link:
Iraq: Palestinians Under Attack, But Unable to Flee