By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

Since October 46,030 Iraqis have returned to their homes in Baghdad.  This is a significant increase from the 3,200 families that returned to Baghdad since January.  (Reuters)  The recent influx of people shows the “improved safety situation,” according to Brigadier General Qassim al Moussawi.  (Dallas Morning News)  He is a major proponent of a plan to increase troops to eliminate terrorist operations in Baghdad.

Another reason for the high return of Baghdad’s refugees is the tightened border control by Iraq’s neighbors.  These bordering nations have absorbed around 2.3 million refugees since the beginning of the war with Iraq with Syria absorbing 1.2 million refugees alone.

These bordering nations have tightened there restrictions on the Iraqi refugees.  For example, at the al-Waheed border crossing from Iraq into Syria scores of Iraqi refugees have lined up for weeks seeking to get visas into Syria.  Last month, Syria passed a rule to cut down on the number of immigrants entering the country.  The new rule only gives visas to merchants and academics.  Thus, the new number of Iraqi immigrants allowed into Syria is a far cry from the 4,000-6,000 Iraqi immigrants that previously entered on a daily basis.

In comparison, during the past year the US admitted 1608 Iraqi refugees.  (The Herald)  The European country that has admitted the most Iraqi refugees is Sweden, which has only allowed 18,000 refugees.  Yet, even these European countries have increased asylum rules to further decrease immigration of Iraqis.

The influx of Iraqis back into Baghdad is shows the increased safety.  As more Iraqis return to the area, it should improve the stability of the area.  Also, it will improve the economy and provide a better lifestyle for the people in Baghdad.

For more information, please see:

Dallas Morning News- Declining violence leads 46,000 refugees back to Iraq, government says- 8 November 2007

Reuters- Iraq says families returning home as violence ebbs- 9 November 2007

Gulf News Daily- 46,000 Iraqis return home- 8 November 2007

The Herald- Iraqis begin to return to homes they fled- 10 November 2007

Washington Post- Officials Cite Return Of Iraqis to Baghdad As Violence Declines- 8 November 2007