UNHCR reaches grim milestone

DAMASCUS, Syria, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Despite renewed calm in many parts of Iraq, the U.N. refugee agency said the number of former residents seeking resettlement is on the rise.

The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said the 50,000th Iraqi refugee submitted his application in November for resettlement in another country.

The UNHCR resettlement program developed in 2007 when it became evident some host nations, from Egypt to Iran, were unable or unwilling to host Iraqi refugees on a long-term basis.

More than 17,000 refugees have left host nations to resettle in other countries, notably in the United States, Canada, Australia and EU member states. That number is up from the less than 5,000 who migrated in 2007.

Laurens Jolles with the UNHCR offices in Syria said moves are under way to persuade other nations to take on additional refugees.

"It is vital for resettlement countries to allow them to start anew as quickly as possible," he said.