Mr. Speaker. from April 18 to 22. I traveled with a congressional delegation. ably led by the gentleman from New York to assess the predicament and needs of Iraqi refugees and displaced persons in Turkey and in northern Iraq. What we were able to see was only a small part of the appalling tragedy which. by all accounts. has befallen the people of Iraq. What we quickly came to understand was both what an outstanding job the international community. led by the United States. has done to respond to the needs of the people in this area. and how great a need remains yet to be addressed. The magnitude of the suffering and humanitarian needs which we witnessed at first hand was such that it is hard to believe that it represents only one part of a much larger humanitarian emergency. In addition to visiting. and witnessing the plight of. these refugees and displaced persons. we also reviewed the operations and sites of the United States relief effort in the area. spoke with our military personnel involved in these operations. and met with officials including the President and other officials of Turkey. the United States Ambassador to Turkey. United States military commanders. and U.N. officials. including Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan. coordinator of the relief effort. What we saw and discussed on the border of Iraq and Turkey is. as I said. only one part of the total tragedy.
Keywords matched
refugees