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Doors closing on Iraqi displaced Doors closing on Iraqi displaced
(about 4 hours later)
An increasing number of Iraqi provinces are refusing entry to refugees fleeing violence in other parts of the country, the UN refugee agency has warned. A growing number of Iraqi provinces are refusing entry to internal refugees, the UN refugee agency has warned.
The head of the UNHCR Iraq Support Unit told the BBC up to 11 governors were restricting access because they lacked resources to look after the refugees.The head of the UNHCR Iraq Support Unit told the BBC up to 11 governors were restricting access because they lacked resources to look after the refugees.
Andrew Harper warned that, with no imminent end to the displacement, Iraq was becoming a "pressure cooker".Andrew Harper warned that, with no imminent end to the displacement, Iraq was becoming a "pressure cooker".
The UNHCR recently said more than 2.2m Iraqis had become internally displaced. The UNHCR says there are 2.2m internal refugees in Iraq, though the Iraqi government says there are half that.
It estimates a further 2.2m have fled to neighbouring states, particularly Syria and Jordan, since the US-led invasion in 2003. In addition, the UNHCR estimates that 2.2m Iraqis have fled to neighbouring states, particularly Syria and Jordan, since the US-led invasion in 2003.
'Pressure cooker''Pressure cooker'
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Harper said Iraqi authorities had been overwhelmed by the scope of the internal refugee problem and did not have the resources to cope. Mr Harper told the BBC that Iraqi authorities were increasingly overwhelmed by the internal refugee problem - caused not only by violence, but also by social and health problems such as cholera outbreaks.
The possibility for Iraqis to find safety and find is becoming increasingly restricted Andrew HarperUNHCR Iraq Support UnitThe possibility for Iraqis to find safety and find is becoming increasingly restricted Andrew HarperUNHCR Iraq Support Unit
He said the governors of up to 11 provinces - out of 18 in the country - had reacted to the crisis by blocking internal migrants from entering their territory, or denying them food and education if they do get in. He said local authorities did not have the resources to cope, and that the governors of at least 11 provinces - out of 18 in the country - had reacted by blocking internal migrants from entering their territory, or denying them food and education if they do get in.
"We are seeing an increasing number of governorates closing their borders or restricting entry to new arrivals," he said."We are seeing an increasing number of governorates closing their borders or restricting entry to new arrivals," he said.
"And so we have a pressure cooker building up inside Iraq - there is no imminent end to the displacement," he added."And so we have a pressure cooker building up inside Iraq - there is no imminent end to the displacement," he added.
"The possibility for Iraqis to find safety and find is becoming increasingly restricted. So, where they can move is becoming over-populated and intense." "The possibility for Iraqis to find safety is becoming increasingly restricted. So, where they can move is becoming over-populated and intense."
WHERE IRAQIS HAVE FLED TO Syria: 1,400,000Jordan: 750,000Gulf states: 200,000Egypt: 100,000Iran: 54,000Lebanon: 40,000Turkey: 10,000Internally displaced: 2,250,000 Source: UNHCR Alarming humanitarian crisisWHERE IRAQIS HAVE FLED TO Syria: 1,400,000Jordan: 750,000Gulf states: 200,000Egypt: 100,000Iran: 54,000Lebanon: 40,000Turkey: 10,000Internally displaced: 2,250,000 Source: UNHCR Alarming humanitarian crisis
Mr Harper said the UNHCR had raised the problem with the Iraqi central government in Baghdad, but it was told that local authorities had been urged not to turn away Iraqis fleeing other parts of the country. Mr Harper said the UNHCR had raised the problem with the Iraqi central government, but was told that local authorities had been urged not to turn away Iraqis fleeing other parts of the country.
The 4.4m Iraqi refugees fleeing the violence and turmoil in the country, Mr Harper said, were the biggest challenge facing the UNHCR and the international community at the moment. The millions of refugees fleeing the violence and turmoil in the country, Mr Harper said, were the biggest challenge facing the UNHCR and the international community.
He said the figures were increasing on average by up to 100,000 every month.He said the figures were increasing on average by up to 100,000 every month.
In Diyala province, local aid workers have said they have been unable to reach thousands of families, including displaced refugees, because of the serious security situation. In Diyala province, aid workers have said they have been unable to reach thousands of families, including displaced refugees, because of the security situation.
Mr Harper's warning comes at a time when Iraq's neighbours have more or less closed their borders to Iraqi refugees, saying they can no longer cope with the strain on their resources. The huge displacement of people is cementing the fragmentation of the country, says the BBC's Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi, with local authorities ignoring Baghdad by refusing to shelter refugees.
That will make national reconciliation even more difficult to achieve, he says.
There are also fears that the ramshackle refugee camps that today dot the Iraqi landscape are a breeding ground for violence, our correspondent adds.
Mr Harper's warning comes at a time when Iraq's neighbours have more or less closed their borders to refugees, saying they can no longer cope with the strain.