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Secretary of State Clinton Calls for Solutions for Warehoused Refugees
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced her commitment to making refugees a priority and to finding solutions for warehoused refugees at her recent confirmation hearing.
"Everywhere we look in the world -- conflict, famine, disease, the economy -- we have refugees…our hope is that we can get a more comprehensive strategy to deal with refugees," explained Secretary Clinton.
She indicated that the United States will likely increasingly use its diplomatic strength to promote refugee rights protection and that the Obama Administration will make a more significant commitment to help integrate refugees into local populations and to take other measures to end refugee warehousing.
Secretary Clinton indicated a desire to build a comprehensive strategy to deal with "decades longstanding" refugee populations. "We're going to make this a high priority, to come up with solutions to some of our longstanding refugee challenges," said Clinton.
USCRI is hopeful that the Administration recognizes that warehousing refugees in often substandard camps for 10, 15, 20 years or more not only violates a refugee's basic human rights and human dignity, but it provides a very poor return on the humanitarian funds the State Department disperses around the world. The United States spent some $1.3 billion on refugee aid in the last fiscal year.
The Secretary made special note of U.S. responsibility to Iraqi refugees. "America has both a moral obligation and a responsibility for security that demands we confront Iraq's humanitarian crisis," said Clinton. "We will also make it a top priority to secure greater regional contributions to refugee care and integration."
Some two million Iraqis have fled their country because of the war, making it one of the largest refugee populations in the world.
Though it is not yet certain how Secretary Clinton's will implement her commitment over the next four years, USCRI was encouraged that she discussed refugee issues at her confirmation. We will work with the Administration to see that these promises are realized.
You can help make sure the new Administration makes refugees a priority by contacting President Obama through our Action Center.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced her commitment to making refugees a priority and to finding solutions for warehoused refugees at her recent confirmation hearing. "Everywhere we look in the world -- conflict, famine, disease, the economy -- we have refugees…our hope is that we can get a more comprehensive strategy to deal with refugees," explained Secretary Clinton.
She indicated that the United States will likely increasingly use its diplomatic strength to promote refugee rights protection and that the Obama Administration will make a more significant commitment to help integrate refugees into local populations and to take other measures to end refugee warehousing.
Secretary Clinton indicated a desire to build a comprehensive strategy to deal with "decades longstanding" refugee populations. "We're going to make this a high priority, to come up with solutions to some of our longstanding refugee challenges," said Clinton.
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USCRI has been at the forefront to end the warehousing of refugees. |
The Secretary made special note of U.S. responsibility to Iraqi refugees. "America has both a moral obligation and a responsibility for security that demands we confront Iraq's humanitarian crisis," said Clinton. "We will also make it a top priority to secure greater regional contributions to refugee care and integration."
Some two million Iraqis have fled their country because of the war, making it one of the largest refugee populations in the world.
Though it is not yet certain how Secretary Clinton's will implement her commitment over the next four years, USCRI was encouraged that she discussed refugee issues at her confirmation. We will work with the Administration to see that these promises are realized.
You can help make sure the new Administration makes refugees a priority by contacting President Obama through our Action Center.
Secretary Clinton Confirmation Hearing Excerpts: Clinton on Iraqi refugees One of the challenges of the Iraqi government and, insofar as we are involved, our government, in sort of balancing how we're going to support the stability of the Iraqi government and help them deal with the repatriation and return, both externally and internally, of Iraqis is a big challenge to the Iraqi government that we're conscious of.Clinton on Warehoused Refugees But we have refugee populations, some of decades longstanding and some of a few days standing, in so many places. I will do my very best to elevate this issue, to give you the kind of expertise within the State Department that will give you comfort that we're going to make this a high priority, and to come up with solutions to some of our longstanding refugee challenges.Read the full transcript of the hearing Read Secretary Clinton’s written testimony (PDF file). |