More than 2 million people have sought refuge along Iraqs borders with Turkey and Iran. We have all been deeply moved by the television images of dehydrated babies lying listless on the ground. staring hollow eyed into an uncertain future. After a too long delay. the international community ib now taking care of the material needs of the 800.000 refugees along the Turkey border. There is an urgent need for assistance to the larger number of refugees along the Iranian border and this. in turn. will require greater cooperation from the Iranian Government. This legislation addresses the humanitarian needs of the Kurdish people. The larger problem. however. is a political and military one. As long as Saddam Hussein is in power. the Kurds will be at risk of slaughter by the Iraqi Army. The United States and its coalition allies now occupy a significant part of northern Iraq. This safe haven. which I hope will soon be expanded to include the city of Dihok. can accommodate up to 1 million of the Kurdish refugees. To accommodate all refugees a further expansion to the east and south is required. This is not a situation from which we can easily extricate ourselves. If we pull out while Saddam is still in power. the Kurds will leave with us or face death.
Keywords matched
refugees