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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Plea for stranded Iraq migrants | Plea for stranded Iraq migrants |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of African and Asian migrants are stranded in Iraq without the funds to return home, the International Organisation for Migration says. | Hundreds of African and Asian migrants are stranded in Iraq without the funds to return home, the International Organisation for Migration says. |
| The Geneva-based body is urgently looking for $2.5m (£1.5m) to help up to 700 destitute migrants return home. | |
| It says some migrants are forced to sign false employment contracts and have their passports confiscated, making them vulnerable to exploitation. | It says some migrants are forced to sign false employment contracts and have their passports confiscated, making them vulnerable to exploitation. |
| Migrants in Iraq often work as domestic helps and in security and construction. | Migrants in Iraq often work as domestic helps and in security and construction. |
| Despite the violence in Iraq, thousands of migrants from Asia and Africa have arrived since the US-led invasion in 2003. | Despite the violence in Iraq, thousands of migrants from Asia and Africa have arrived since the US-led invasion in 2003. |
| Most are willing to work for low wages, which makes them attractive to employers. | Most are willing to work for low wages, which makes them attractive to employers. |
| A significant number are brought into the country without work permits. | A significant number are brought into the country without work permits. |
| IOM spokeswoman Jemini Pandya told the French news agency AFP the IOM had helped more than 7,000 stranded migrants from countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Uganda since 2003. | IOM spokeswoman Jemini Pandya told the French news agency AFP the IOM had helped more than 7,000 stranded migrants from countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Uganda since 2003. |
| But in 2009 it had only been able to help 32 people, "due to lack of funds", she said. | But in 2009 it had only been able to help 32 people, "due to lack of funds", she said. |
| She said some of those now stranded in Iraq had been "trafficked to Iraq for labour exploitation". | She said some of those now stranded in Iraq had been "trafficked to Iraq for labour exploitation". |
| "Migrants from countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Uganda are often coerced to sign false employment contracts once in Iraq," Ms Pandya said. | "Migrants from countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Uganda are often coerced to sign false employment contracts once in Iraq," Ms Pandya said. |
| "Their passports are confiscated and they become victims of exploitation and abuse, working in inhumane conditions." | "Their passports are confiscated and they become victims of exploitation and abuse, working in inhumane conditions." |
| The BBC's Rob Walker in Baghdad says the Iraqi government accepts there is a problem, but lacks the means to regulate illegal foreign workers or the firms that employ them. | The BBC's Rob Walker in Baghdad says the Iraqi government accepts there is a problem, but lacks the means to regulate illegal foreign workers or the firms that employ them. |