Basma AlKhateeb — Iraqi Aid Worker

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Awad Awad / AFP / Getty

Palestinian boys warm up next to a kerosene heater at a mechanics workshop in the Baqaa refugee camp near the Jordanian capital Amman on February 19, 2008.

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On the problems facing Iraq
We have also the problem rising, like, IDPs [internally displaced people]. We have women trafficking, and prostitution. We have juvenile detainees suffering. Before we didn't have child soldier problem, a lot of drug victims, complete failure of public services. These things need to be identified. This is the job of all civil society and media, just to draw attention that the humanitarian crisis needs to be worked at different levels.

Who are these IDPs?
They are families who have been driven out by militias in the middle of the night — and Iraqi families invest all their assets in their houses. They leave their houses without taking anything, and if they were very lucky, none of them will get killed or brutally murdered. They go nowhere. Then they will have no food-ration card, they won't have IDs, their children will not be able to attend school. If they are lucky, they will find neighbors or relatives. They lack all kinds of public health services. Many of them are living in camps. We have really hot summers and in the winter it's even worse, no water, no electricity, food, unemployment.

On Iraqis who have fled the country
I don't believe there is a serious humanitarian aid effort in neighboring countries. Yes, there have been announcements about programs, but there aren't any concrete programs to deal with these problems. Neighboring countries are recipients of Iraqi refugees. Most of the burden should lie on the Iraqi government on what to do. We do not feel it is a priority for them to solve these problems. Inside Iraq, we have around 2 million scattered all over the country after 2006 February. This is a problem and I don't believe the international community is doing enough work, nor the Iraqi government. Any surge or any military activity should be parallel with political measures and activities. We don't feel this is happening seriously.

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