The Iraqi government on Monday (July 23rd) ordered security forces and Iraq's Red Crescent to allow Syrian refugees into the country and provide them with support, reversing an earlier decision, AFP reported.
"Prime Minister [Nouri al-Maliki] directed Iraqi forces and police and the Iraqi Red Crescent to receive Syrian refugees and help them and provide them with services," Al-Iraqiya television said.
Previously, Iraq had sealed off its border points to all refugees except for Iraqi citizens fleeing the violence in Syria. Government spokesperson Ali al-Dabbagh had said on Friday, "We cannot provide aid […] because of the security situation."
The Iraqi Transport Ministry said that more than 2,000 Iraqis have returned by plane in recent days.
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ADD A COMMENT (COMMENT POLICY) * DENOTES REQUIRED FIELD
READER COMMENTS
ليث
2012-7-24
God has created a lesson from every distress; everything in our life happens for a reason and wisdom that God hides in his broad knowledge. Yes, everything that happens to our brothers in Syria makes the heart feel sad and creates bitterness inside us all. As we are Arab brothers, we take care of each other's affairs, but has not the time come to unify together? If we are all as Arabs gather, no one can defeat us as long as we are together and God is with us all. Wake up Arab countries and let us help our brothers who are lost in the land of Syria and say no to Bashar al-Assad, the unjust and his ruthless armies. God commanded us to unite for some reason. His Almighty says, hold fast, all together by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves. God Almighty has spoken the truth; in our unity as Arab countries we will find our strength as humans and not from the bad governments that seek only the interests of personal inferiority. Our brothers in Syria are helpless and all they hope for is life. Just life, not money or prestige or authority. The heart hurts a lot from the ignorance of Arabs of the conditions of each other and their forgetfulness of all the principles of humanity.