Five years. 4,000 dead Americans. But there is yet another number that has been widely overlooked and that is the about 4.5 million refugees from the war in Iraq. They have for the most part been swept under the rug and forgotten, and it is far past time that we do more to help them piece together their lives out of ruins. Not only is this is a humanitarian responsibility, but is in fact a moral necessity to aid those whose lives have been destroyed through our war. Whether anti-war or for its continuation, it should not be controversial to recognize that we owe the Iraqis. It was our invasion that set off events that killed family members, destroyed homes and livelihoods, and forced these millions to leave their homeland. And that is why it is important that we, together as a Cornell community, support this year's Big Red Relief, which this year is devoted to supporting Iraqi refugees in their time of need.
These refugees — unlike those from other conflicts — do not congregate in large camps, but instead melt away into the urban centers of neighboring countries, especially Syria and Jordan, and some within other regions of Iraq. Iraqi refugees live in dire conditions. Due to their diffusion within large cities and often illegal status in their host countries, they are often unregistered with the United Nations. The U.N. then is unable to give them aid. Even if they get the approximately $100 per month of aid they are still strapped financially and instead live off their savings. Rent and utilities for an apartment often tops $100 a month, so refugees drain their savings fast in order to simply survive. None are allowed to work legally in their host country's legitimate economy. Some work as street vendors, or illegally in legitimate business, but even then it is difficult to find a job.
Often refugees face hostile communities in their host countries. "Mr. B," an Iraqi refugee in Damascus, reported to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) that his children could no longer play outside because the neighborhood children beat them up, and that the Syrians and Palestinian refugees in the neighborhood treated the Iraqis with contempt. Living by a thread in a foreign country illegally, understanding that deportation means death, and day by day spending away your savings epitomizes the suffering Iraqi refugees have to endure.
Not many of us can imagine living like this, living with no hope for the future. For many of these refugees they cannot return home for fear of being killed. To many who've had family members who've returned to Iraq from neighboring countries know that they have been killed or have not been heard from since. Such is the case of a 37-year old woman whose husband went home in November 2007 to liquidate assets to raise more money for living expenses. Once back in Baghdad, he simply disappeared, and has not been heard from to this day. But to remain in cities such as Amman or Damascus, unemployed, unregistered, and without future options is a hopeless and untenable situation. Most shamefully for the United States, we have failed those who believed in our mission in Iraq. Many translators and others who helped coalitions forces have been left behind to fend for themselves. None of these refugees feel safe going home and it is likely that many of these refugees will ever be able to go home.
We bear the brunt of responsibility for aiding these refugees. There are at least two ways that the United States can show our commitment through monetary aid and by opening up our borders to more Iraqi refugees. Monetarily, the IRC estimates $4 billion should be raised from around the world to support the refugees, with the U.S. covering approximately half the cost. Given the billions per month that the federal government spends on the war in Iraq, this small amount given to those forced to flee by the conflict should be an easy price to pay.
Also, the U.S. must commit to allowing greatly increased levels of Iraqi refugees to resettle here. For 2008, the current goal for American acceptance of Iraqi refugees is 12,000 people. Unfortunately, we have failed in the past to meet our goals, and there is no reason to believe this year will be any different. It just isn't enough. The IRC recommends that the U.S. up its commitment to 30,000 refugees a year for the next four years. Our government can and must do more to address this crisis and suffering that our nation's actions have brought upon other people.
An obvious question to ask is, "what can I do?" After all, we are just college students who have very limited control over policy decisions in Washington. But we can be aware, spread awareness, and demand action from our elected representatives. This is why it is important to support this year's Big Red Relief; it gives each and every one of us here at Cornell the power to improve someone's life and bring hope to hopeless situation. On April 11, there will be a concert in Bailey Hall that will feature a variety of Cornell performing groups and special guest Ayurveda. The concert is committed to raising money for the International Rescue Committee, an organization founded in 1933 to bring relief to the crisis regions of the world. Every ticket sold helps contribute to the cause of aiding Iraqi refugees; every dollar spent helps bring hope to family living in hell. We can choose to make a difference, we can commit to fulfilling our nation's responsibility.
Rob Coniglio is a junior in the college of Arts and Sciences. He can be contacted at rjc47@cornell.edu [1]. Send Guest Room submissions to opinion@cornellsun.com.
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[1] mailto:rjc47@cornell.edu