The Iraqi Crisis

As year 2013 marked the appearance of ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), around 1.8 millions Iraqis, half of them are children, were forced to flee from their homes across the country. As violence escalated in July 2014 in Iraq by ISIS, thousands of Christians and Yazidi families were driven away from their homes in fear of getting killed. Many people survived from this barbaric attack, however they suffered from hunger and dehydration especially the children as everyone was out of food and water.

The statuses of these Iraqi citizens changed making them refugees in their own country and nearby regions. As we recall, year 2011 was the start of the Syrian crisis making Syrian citizens escape their homes seeking shelter in Iraq and other countries. After 3 years from the start of the Syrian crisis, almost 223 thousands refugees were settled and living in Iraqi refugee camps. The three year old conflict in neighboring Syria puts additional burden on Iraq’s hospitals and public services. The combination of these two kinds of refugees inside Iraq itself had the situation like a timed bomb that was ready to explode at any time. 

Children are forced to leave their houses, their countries, and everything they used to have only because they were guilty of being christians. Most Iraqis are now seeking shelter and safety from The Kingdom Of Jordan which already has around 500 thousands Syrian refugees who most of them are currently living in the Zaatari refugee camp located 10 Km east of the state of Mafraq. 
Around 4000 Iraqi Christians are currently staying in Jordan. Most of these refugees are applying for Asylum through the embassies that are in Kingdom. A normal Asylum request in such harsh situations would take around a year due to the many interviews that individuals, and families have to attend in order to be given that right.

Due to this crisis in the Middle East, it is estimated that the number of Iraqi refugees in specific will top the 3 million mark by year 2016, and that of course if they are given the chance to flee the country. 

Jamil Dababneh

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