Advocacy Spotlight

Refugee Funding

At a time when the humanitarian assistance and protection needs of the world's refugees are growing and the international community is being called upon to do more, Refugee Council USA strongly request that Congress appropriate $2.3 billion for the Migration and Refugee Assistance account, increase and fully fund the ceiling of the Emergency Refugee Migration Assistance account to $200 million, appropriate $1.6 billion for the International Disaster Assistance account, and fund the Office of Refugee Resettlement at $987.9 million to adquately serve the needs of arriving refugees, asylees, victims of trafficking, victims of torture, and unacompanied refugee minors.

In addition to needing additional funds to provide assistance to refugees in countries of first asylum and those who are internally displaced within their own countries, there also is a great need for the United States to continue its role as a leader in offering resettlement to refugees for whom resettlement is the only durable solution to their situation.  We are encouraged by the Administration's fiscal year 2011 budget submission are hopeful that Congress will appropriate adequate funds to restore the United States refugee admissions and resettlement programs to levels commensurate to global crises impacting refugees. 

For more information, visit U.S. Funding for Refugees and IDPs.

Resettling Refugees in a Tough Economy

The U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program has a long and proud tradition of welcoming the most vulnerable individuals who have fled persecution and war.  Since the foundations for the program were laid nearly 30 years ago, there have been significant changes in the diversity of refugees' backgrounds and needs.  Unfortunately, there have not been adequate adjustments in the program to keep pace with these changes.  The recent economic downturn has further exacerbated these disparities and brought to the forefront the important need for a more robust resettlement program. 

Given the support to adjust to their new lives, refugees are incredible entrepreneurs, leaders, and have often revitalized ailing towns.  The economic downturn has affected many Americans, most of whom are fortunate enough to have a social support network of friends and family to fall back upon.  Refugees arriving in the United States have often fled from horrific circumstances and frequently have no immediate family upon which they can rely for assistance.  The U.S. needs to keep their promise in providing protection for the the world's most vulnerable persons. 

For more information, visit Refugee Resettlement in Tough Economic Times

Iraqi Refugees

The situation currently facing Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons has very quickly become one of the most pressing humanitarian crises in the world.  The number of Iraqis fleeing their homes swelled dramatically in early 2006.  Approximately 1.8 million Iraqis are internally displaced, and there are about 2 million refugees living outside the country. 
UNHCR currently estimates there are 2.7 million internally displaced Iraqis.  All IDPs face critical situations. The Iraqi government reports that only 32 percent of Iraqis have drinkable water and a bare 19 percent have access to adequate sewage systems.

Approximately 2 million Iraqis have fled the country. Forty thousand to 50,000 Iraqis leave their homes each month for countries such as Syria (500,000 to 1 million refugees), Jordan (700,000 refugees), Lebanon (40,000 refugees), Egypt (20,000 to 80,000 refugees), and Turkey.  Meeting the basic needs of these refugees is becoming a strain on host countries.

For more information, visit Iraqi Refugees and IDPs.