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The Lancaster Voice
LCPJ-PO BOX 274
Lancaster, PA 17608-0274
631.512.3018
info@lancastervoice.org
www.LancasterVoice.org
To receive email updates (2-3 per
month), email
info@lancastervoice.org
Coordinator of LCPJ, John Schreck,
email
info@lancastervoice.org
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Iraqi Refugees
 In
Feb. 2007 the U.S. Department of State announced that the U.S. would
accept 7000 Iraqi refugees in the 2007 fiscal year (http://www.state.gov/g/rls/rm/80532.htm).
This is in contrast to the few hundred admitted since the beginning of
the war in 2003. This long-overdue action was greeted with approval by
the refugee resettlement community and others concerned about the
plight of Iraqi refugees in Jordan, Syria and other Middle Eastern
countries to which they had fled sectarian violence. However, only
around 1,135 Iraqi refugees were admitted in the fiscal year that
ended Sept. 30 (Washington Post, Sept. 22, 2007).
The United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees estimates that two million Iraqis, including Kurds, Shiites,
Assyrians and Chaldeans, have taken refuge in Syria and Jordan,
greatly overwhelming these countries, and an additional 2000 leave
Iraq each day (http://www.unhcr.org/iraq.html).
Syria and Jordan have begun restricting the entrance of Iraqi
refugees, leaving many Iraqis trapped in Iraq. The situation of many
of these refugees is dire, and it is only right that the U.S. take
responsibility for resettling as many of these refugees as possible to
relieve the burden on the neighboring states. The U.S. has pledged to
accept 12,000 Iraqi refugees in the 2008 fiscal year, although many
advocates believe the number should be higher. Canada and Australia
have also pledged to accept significant numbers of refugees.
During the 2008 fiscal year, Lancaster
and the surrounding areas will begin seeing arrivals of Iraqi
refugees. Our first Iraqi family arrived April 29, and will be
sponsored by Lancaster Church of the Brethren. As a human rights and
peace advocating community, we have lobbied against the war and
expressed our concerns for the effect of the invasion on the Iraqi
people. Now is our chance to put practical action behind our words and
welcome Iraqi refugees into our community.
Church World Service will be looking for
church and other groups to sponsor refugee families, as well as
individual volunteers and donors. You can facilitate this process by
expressing to the leadership of your community your support for
welcoming Iraqi refugees. If you would like to volunteer or would like
additional information about helping, contact Mindy Nolt 717-381-2891
or Michelle Sultan at 717-358-9278.
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