Iraq unrest forces 65,000 to flee

[cal04]

At least 65,000 Iraqis have fled their homes as a result of sectarian violence and intimidation, according to new figures from the Iraqi government. And the rate at which Iraqis are being displaced is increasing. Figures given to the BBC by the Ministry for Displacement and Migration show a doubling in the last two weeks of the number of Iraqis forced to move. There has been a sharp rise in sectarian violence since the bombing of an important Shia shrine in February. This triggered the current tensions between the country's majority Shia Muslims and minority Sunni Muslims, and hundreds of people have since been killed.

Intimidation

Reports of people leaving their homes because of violence or intimidation, or simply because they no longer feel safe, are becoming more and more common. Some of the intimidation is being carried out by mobile phone. People have been receiving threatening text messages and gruesome videos filmed on mobile phone cameras. In one, a Sunni Iraqi man who entered a mainly Shia neighbourhood of Baghdad is seen being beaten and killed by men in black clothes. The video was then sent out with the warning that this is what would happen to any other Sunni who comes to this area.

Makeshift camps
The Iraqi Ministry for Displacement and Migration told the BBC almost 11,000 families had left their homes - equivalent to about 65,000, based on the average Iraqi family size. Much of this displacement is taking place in and around Baghdad where the violence has been worst, with many people moving in with relatives or friends. The Red Crescent says it is now providing food and shelter to about 2,000 families in the capital, some of them living in makeshift camps.

But there are also significant movements elsewhere. Hundreds of Sunnis from the overwhelmingly Shia south, have been heading north - many going to Sunni areas in and around Falluja, west of Baghdad. The United Nations still has only a limited presence inside Iraq but officials in neighbouring Jordan say they are trying to secure emergency funds because of expectations this internal refugee problem will grow.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4905770.stm

[izzie]

1. I am glad you got this up. I was sort of shocked so have been ----

all over the internet reading about it. I wonder if all the 'stuff' is still in the country that we put there for this at the start of the war. I read we were sure it would happen when we went in. I bet some nice US gov. man has 'take' care of all the 'stuff' by now and we will never know what happened to it so will need more of our tax payers money to help them or maybe just leave them like New Orleans. Hell they do not vote right either.

[stop the bleeding]

2. thank you

I am gonna try to get this to the DU Research Forum for Iraq News this one is important

K&R for the awareness factor

[rodeodance]

3. k