Despite an international conference held earlier this year and several pleas for funds by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to help Syria and Jordan with the estimated 2 million Iraqi refugees who have fled the violence, almost no bilateral support has been given, the United Nations said on Friday. “Syria and Jordan … are struggling to cope,” said UNHCR official Ron Redmond. “Syria continues to receive 2,000 Iraqis a day, and about 30,000 a month ended up staying.” UNCHR has asked for $60 million to help the refugees, but it will soon raise the sum to a total of $100 million. It has received $70 million so far, with another $10 million pledged. “Donors have to provide direct bilateral support to those host countries whose schools, hospitals, public services, and infrastructure are seriously overstretched because of the influx of millions of Iraqis,” said Redmond. Redmond also called attention to 12 Palestinian children who urgently need evacuation from Iraq for emergency medical reasons. There is still no response from the international community. “If these children are not evacuated soon, some might die or be handicapped for life,” he said.
