Mission Accomplished! Iraqi Refugees Turn to the Sex Trade in Syria

[npincus]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/world/middleeast/29syria.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Invade, conquer, occupy, and humiliate. "How I Destroyed Iraq" by George W. B*sh.

Given the deteriorating economic situation of those refugees, a United Nations report found last year, many girls and women in “severe need” turn to prostitution, in secret or even with the knowledge or involvement of family members. In many cases, the report added, “the head of the family brings clients to the house.”

Aid workers say thousands of Iraqi women work as prostitutes in Syria, and point out that as violence in Iraq has increased, the refugee population has come to include more female-headed households and unaccompanied women.

“So many of the Iraqi women arriving now are living on their own with their children because the men in their families were killed or kidnapped,” said Sister Marie-Claude Naddaf, a Syrian nun at the Good Shepherd convent in Damascus, which helps Iraqi refugees.

She said the convent had surveyed Iraqi refugees living in Masaken Barzeh, on the outskirts of Damascus, and found 119 female-headed households in one small neighborhood. Some of the women, seeking work outside the home for the first time and living in a country with high unemployment, find that their only marketable asset is their bodies.

[babylonsister]

1. This is also because Syrians won't allow Iraqis to work legally.

These women have no recourse-nice job again, dim one.

[npincus]

2. Not making excuses for Syrian gov't but...

1.2 million Iraqi refugees in Syria reflect a 6% increase in Syria's total population; imagine the US accepting and absorbing 22 million refugees, appox. 6% of our population. Never happen. The US has agreed to accept a handful of Iraq refugees at most, leaving it to neighboring Arab states to shelter and support the massive numbers of people fleeing the Hell we've created there. I doubt neigboring countries are/ were prepared to absorb such huge numbers of people, many destitute, and it may take quite awhile until they figure out how to do so. At a minimum, the US should provide major $$$$ to support the infrastructure to house, educate and care for these poor Iraqis.

The fact that Syria has a policy of allowing citizens of neighboring Arab countries entry without visas, and providing them sanctuary from certain death in the mess we've created, is to their credit. They need to quickly address assimilating these people and affording them the same rights as their own citizens, for sure.

The fuck-up of the small, small, studpid monkey from Baraba's fetid womb will live on in the suffering and humiliation of millions worldwide. How f*cking tragic and shameful.

[babylonsister]

3. And I wasn't criticizing Syria; they have helped the Iraqis, but what is

a family to do without money to pay their rent, buy food, etc. How many Iraqis are now homeless in Syria? The whole thing is a big fat mess, all because of the US warmongers.