Iraq Mission

We spent the whole of Saturday meeting Iraqi refugees. Some had fled from Iraq as much as two years ago but others as recently as last week. It was quite staggering. Literally everyone that we met had lost at least one family member through "disappearance" or murder. Many of the refugees we interviewed did not know who had taken or killed their family members although, of course, they had their suspicions. There had simply been no one present to witness the abductions or murders, or those responsible had not worn uniforms or anything that could enable them to be readily identified. The thought of not even knowing who is responsible for the murder or abduction of a family member is difficult to contemplate. I can scarcely imagine what it must be like to experience and have to cope with such tragedy.

Gloomy prospects for early return home
Everyone we met had fled after the murder or abduction of a family member. Some had received death threats themselves. Some had learnt that other members of their families had been killed since they left. Most of the refugees did not know what they would do next, how they could start to begin to repair their lives, and they were uncertain as to how long they will be permitted to remain in Jordan. All of them were convinced that the continuing violence in Iraq meant that it was too unsafe for them to have any possibility of returning to Iraq anytime in the near future.

Sarnata Reynolds AIUSA Refugee Program Director