[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 298 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 298

  Expressing the Sense of Congress on the Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 14, 2008

  Mr. Israel submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the Sense of Congress on the Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq.

Whereas according to the United Nations, nearly 2,000,000 Iraqis have been 
        forced to flee Iraq due to terrorism and sectarian conflict and another 
        1,700,000 have been forced to relocate within Iraq;
Whereas the United Nations estimates that more than 4,000,000 Iraqis are 
        currently displaced from their homes, including roughly 2,200,000 inside 
        Iraq and 2,000,000 refugees;
Whereas their numbers grow at an estimated rate of 80,000 to 100,000 per month;
Whereas refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (``IDPs'') increasingly 
        present a security crisis for Iraq's government and for the stability of 
        the Middle East at large;
Whereas the deprivation of food, shelter, and medical care for these refugees 
        and IDPs constitutes a major humanitarian crisis;
Whereas this refugee crisis is creating a severe strain on the economy of Iraq 
        as well as the economies of neighboring countries; and
Whereas the international community through organizations such as the Office of 
        The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (``UNHCR'') and the 
        International Committee of the Red Cross are making bold efforts that 
        focus attention and resources on this problem: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Iraqi refugee crisis must be addressed before it 
        becomes a major factor in the destabilization of Iraq;
            (2) this humanitarian crisis, if left to fester, could 
        become an increasing threat to the National security of the 
        United States;
            (3) the Iraqi Red Crescent Organization is a principal 
        relief organization providing immediate relief in the form of 
        food, shelter, and medicine to the IDP and refugee populations 
        in Iraq; and
            (4) the United States should support the Iraqi Red Crescent 
        Organization in their work to provide humanitarian relief to 
        the people of Iraq.
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