Iraqis fleeing to neighboring countries

BAGHDAD, July 30 (UPI) -- The United Nations is having difficulty raising enough money to care for the thousands of Iraqis who are spilling into neighboring countries.

In what is being called the greatest mass exodus in the Middle East, some 14 percent of Iraqis have fled their homes out of fear of being killed, The Independent reported.

To complicate matters, the newspaper said the U.N. High Commission for refugees is having difficulty raising the $100 million needed for relief.

The two countries caring for the greatest proportion of Iraqi refugees, Syria and Jordan, have received next to nothing from the world community, the Independent reported in an article Monday.

Some 1.4 million Iraqis have fled to Syria while Jordan has taken in 750,000 Iraqis. Egypt and Lebanon report 200,000 Iraqis have crossed into their countries, the newspaper said.