Iraqi influx burdens Jordan, Syria as international agencies plead for help

Jordan and Syria have complained that they have been abandoned by the West and left to deal with the massive flight of Iraqi refugees escaping violence. The refugee's presence is putting a burden on Arab countries' infrastructure. The countries raised their grievances at an international conference in the Jordanian capital Amman.
The meeting generated urgent calls for expanded resettlement opportunities in the West and financial assistance to Syria and Jordan, which host more than 2 million Iraqi refugees. The message was directed at the US, the United Nations and several other countries and organizations present.
Jordan reminded all that a host country is the decision maker regarding the entry of Iraqis and their residence. And the Interior Minister specified the type of international assistance desperately needed.
Mukheimar Abu-Jamous, Jordanian Interior Ministry, said, "Participants emphasized the need for international support for the service sectors, particularly the education and health sectors in the host countries to enable them to continue providing for the Iraqis who are living on its territory."
The influx of 750,000 Iraqis is costing Jordan a billion US dollars a year in basic services.
Besides Jordan, some one and a half million Iraqis have fled to Syria, while Egypt and Lebanon have more than 200-thousand refugees each.
The UN estimates about 50,000 people continue to flee Iraq every month, mostly to neighboring Jordan and Syria.
The two countries have repeatedly warned that the influx is exhausting their limited resources and driving up inflation. They say what the West and Iraq have done to alleviate the pressure is still far from enough.