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| UN makes $60m Iraq refugee appeal | UN makes $60m Iraq refugee appeal |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The United Nations' refugee body has appealed for $60m (£30.8m, 45m euros) in emergency aid for those fleeing violence in Iraq. | The United Nations' refugee body has appealed for $60m (£30.8m, 45m euros) in emergency aid for those fleeing violence in Iraq. |
| One in eight of Iraqis have now left their homes, with up to 50,000 people leaving each month, the UNHCR said. | One in eight of Iraqis have now left their homes, with up to 50,000 people leaving each month, the UNHCR said. |
| It said the exodus was the largest long-term movement since the displacement of the Palestinians after the creation of Israel in 1948. | It said the exodus was the largest long-term movement since the displacement of the Palestinians after the creation of Israel in 1948. |
| Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon are hosting most of the country's refugees. | Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon are hosting most of the country's refugees. |
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| See map showing Iraqi migration | |
| "The longer this conflict goes on, the more difficult it becomes for the hundreds of thousands of people displaced," UNHCR head Antonio Guterres said. | "The longer this conflict goes on, the more difficult it becomes for the hundreds of thousands of people displaced," UNHCR head Antonio Guterres said. |
| The agency said that about 12% of Iraqis had fled their homes due to the violence that has spread through the country since the 2003 US-led invasion. | The agency said that about 12% of Iraqis had fled their homes due to the violence that has spread through the country since the 2003 US-led invasion. |
| But it also said that many had left long before the current conflict began. | But it also said that many had left long before the current conflict began. |
| Acute poverty | Acute poverty |
| The UNHCR estimates that the number of Iraqis living beyond the country's borders as refugees stands at two million and a further 1.7 million live within the borders as displaced people. | The UNHCR estimates that the number of Iraqis living beyond the country's borders as refugees stands at two million and a further 1.7 million live within the borders as displaced people. |
| But it warns the number of internally displaced - those forced to leave their homes but not the country - could reach 2.7 million by the end of the year. | But it warns the number of internally displaced - those forced to leave their homes but not the country - could reach 2.7 million by the end of the year. |
| Unremitting violence in Iraq will likely mean continued mass internal and external displacement Antonio GuterresUNHCR Chief Iraqi refugees' stories | Unremitting violence in Iraq will likely mean continued mass internal and external displacement Antonio GuterresUNHCR Chief Iraqi refugees' stories |
| Of those who have fled Iraq, the UNHCR estimates that up to one million Iraqis are living in Syria; up to 700,000 in neighbouring Jordan; between 20,000 and 80,000 in Egypt and up to 40,000 in Lebanon. | Of those who have fled Iraq, the UNHCR estimates that up to one million Iraqis are living in Syria; up to 700,000 in neighbouring Jordan; between 20,000 and 80,000 in Egypt and up to 40,000 in Lebanon. |
| Many of these refugees live in conditions of acute poverty and the agency says that there is growing evidence of women turning to prostitution. | Many of these refugees live in conditions of acute poverty and the agency says that there is growing evidence of women turning to prostitution. |
| In Syria, for example, almost a third of Iraqi refugee children do not go to school. | In Syria, for example, almost a third of Iraqi refugee children do not go to school. |
| The agency has also urged neighbouring countries who are hosting refugees to keep their borders open because Iraq's continuing violence will fuel further floods of refugees. | The agency has also urged neighbouring countries who are hosting refugees to keep their borders open because Iraq's continuing violence will fuel further floods of refugees. |
| "Unremitting violence in Iraq will likely mean continued mass internal and external displacement affecting much of the surrounding region," Mr Guterres said. | "Unremitting violence in Iraq will likely mean continued mass internal and external displacement affecting much of the surrounding region," Mr Guterres said. |
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