Los Refugiados Iraquíes en Oriente Medio: el Ascenso de la “Cuestión Iraquí"

Abstract

The 2003 invasion of Iraq and the latter sectarian conflict have unleashed many local, regional and international consequences. One of them it is the departure of more than two millions of refugees to the neighboring countries. The Middle East is now the region that receives almost the half of the total global refugee population. The main receiving countries, Jordan and Syria, look at the arriving of these Iraqi expatriates from a security perspective (national, economic and regime security). They are afraid that the Iraqi refugees can spillover the problems of their original country. The solution to the problem is difficult. It is not enough to solve the causes that originate it. The best solution is the return to Iraq: this would permit the use of the human and financial capital that is now behind the border. But this return needs some specific conditions: stability and a proper infrastructure that would be able to cover the returnees’ necessities. If the return process is not made properly, the situation could worsen: those who come back may join the more that two millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) already in the country. Also they would find very hard to integrate themselves into the new State.