BBC NEWS | Middle East | US 'to take 7,000 Iraq refugees'

BBC NEWS | Middle East | US 'to take 7,000 Iraq refugees'

US 'to take 7,000 Iraq refugees'
The US is to take in another 7,000 Iraqi refugees over the next year amid rising international concern over those fleeing the insurgency, officials said.
The number represents a huge increase on the 463 refugees the US has taken in since the four-year-old war began.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been outlining the plan in talks with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The UN estimates that up to 50,000 Iraqis flee each month and that 3.8m have left since the war started.

UN appeal

Most of the refugees have headed for Syria and Jordan. But both countries have tried to cut the influx, narrowing options for those fleeing.

The new US plan was revealed by state department officials ahead of a formal announcement on Wednesday.

The 7,000 refugees would move to the US from countries they have already reached.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the figures was a "target" not a ceiling.

The plan, outlined by Ms Rice to UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres, would also afford special treatment to those in Iraq who were at risk of sectarian attack through providing the US with information.

The UN has called for $60m (£30.5m) from nations for a global resettlement programme. The US is expected to pledge $18m.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6362289.stm