Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2122. I commend the gentleman from California . for introducing this important piece of legislation to authorize emergency assistance for the Iraqi refugees. I also want to thank the Foreign Affairs Committee for reporting this supplemental authorization which will be an important step in helping to alleviate the suffering I and four of my colleagues witnessed on our recent trip to the refugee camps at the Turkish border. This legIslation authorizing supplemental funds for the Iraqi refugees will be a valuable contribution to the excellent relief efforts currently being undertaken by the United States military. As we saw during our trip. it is vital to continue the relief operations now underway to move the refugees from the mountaintops. to more accessible areas where they can receive the necessary food and medical assistance. This supplemental is particularly important. not only because of the Kurdish refugee crisis. but because of all the other pressing refugee problems around the world which are all competing for our scarce resources. Right now in the Sudan. around 10 million people are now at risk of starvation. People are already dying there. and large numbers of deaths can be expected soon. Therefore. it is critical that we provide these additional funds for the Iraqi refugees and not deplete the emergency resources for Africa. I would also like to underline the importance of the waiver of country specific restrictions in the bill. This is vital regarding assistance to Iran. which is now facing a larger influx of Iraqi refugees than Turkey. There are reports of over 1 million refugees inside Iran. with another 500.000 to 800.000 along the border. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and support the Iraqi refugees.
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refugee refugees