CFA BEGINS CAMPAIGN TO SECURE U.S. GOVERNMENTAL AND UN SUPPORT FOR IDENTIFICATION AND RESETTLEMENT OF IRAQI REFUGEES

January 26th, 2007

The events of the last several weeks have taken the Chaldean Federation of America (CFA) closer to the goal of relieving the humanitarian crisis of Iraqi-Christian refugees by heightening the awareness of their plight, the increasing persecution and chaos in their homeland. In the early weeks of 2007, the CFA was called upon to provide data and background statistics for the Hearing of the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary on the Plight of the Iraqi Refugees, initiated and chaired by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) on January 16, 2007.

On the day of testimony, CFA representatives served as resources to this distinguished Committee providing support for those who had witnessed and experienced targeted persecution. The formal nine-page testimony of the CFA, entered into the Congressional Record on January 16th, offered background and critical data attesting to the targeted persecution of the Christian minorities that has persisted over the centuries, erupting again into this current wave of “ethno-religious” cleansing.

Additionally, the CFA petitioned the Senate Judiciary Committee to expedite Iraqis immigration to the U.S. CFA also urged the Committee to explore avenues for delivering aid to the humanitarian organizations within Iraq and in those countries where there are large concentrations of Iraqi refugees, to help relieve the terrible conditions under which they and their children are living. CFA also urged the Committee to explore the management of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to determine whether it is, indeed, delivering the level of support and relief assured under the provisions of international law and UN Conventions.

Evidently the CFA’s many months of effort dedicated to the cause of the Christian refugees is building into a worldwide movement, attracting the heartfelt support of the nation’s leading Jewish organizations, as well as the support of the US Catholic Conference of Bishops, the International Catholic Migration Commission, the Jesuit Refugee Services, and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services.

This is a compelling coming together of diverse faith-based humanitarian organizations in support of the rescue and relief of more than160,000 persecuted Iraqi Christians who have fled their ancestral homelands. This action, along with the work of many other humanitarian relief agencies, has resulted in the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Ellen Sauerbrey, saying that the U.S. could take as many as 20,500 Iraqi refugees this year if the funding were made available by the Congress in addition to the 60 Million dollars appeal made to the International community by UNHCR to meet Iraq situation response. Since the number of Iraqi refugees is dramatically increasing, both the Department of State and the UNHCR have been asking governments such as Canada, Australia, and the European Union countries, to “favorably” consider asylee seekers from Iraq. In addition, Mrs. Sauerbrey said that many Iraqis who fled to Syria or Jordan, including victims of torture, women and children, and members of the small Christian minority, will never be able to return to Iraq.

Since May 2006, the Michigan-based CFA has focused its efforts on identifying, locating, and assisting displaced refugees throughout the world in order to reunite them with relatives already residing in the United States. The CFA quickly revised its initial projections of several thousand potential newcomers to now well over tens of thousands. This is a result of Iraqi-Americans identifying and pledging to sponsor thousands of their own relatives who had fled certain death and violence to 31 countries worldwide.

CFA strongly believes that Iraqi Christians, as past history demonstrates, can assimilate well without burdening the country of final resettlement, and will make a valuable contribution to society.