UN sets date for Iraq refugee conference

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2007

GENEVA (AFP) — The United Nations will hold a conference on April 17 and 18 to discuss the four million Iraqis displaced or made refugees by the war in their country, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees announced Friday.

The UNHCR hopes to increase international involvement in managing the problem, which has seen two million Iraqis leave their country, mostly for neighbouring Syria (one million refugees) and Jordan (750,000), spokesman Ron Redmond said.

The United States announced last week that it was willing to accept 7,000 refugees over the next seven months but Redmond said the UNHCR hopes to find homes for 20,000 Iraqis this year.

The most vulnerable people, namely women or victims of violence, would have priority, he said.

The UNHCR also...