The New York Times reports today that Iraqi refugees in Syria, Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries are in a “state of limbo.”
According to the Times, refugees fled Iraq thinking their displacement would be short term, but many have been stranded for months and even years without permanent resettlement.
One refugee told the Times, “We become more inclined to rely on fate, but this uncertainty is destroying any future for my children.”
Iraqi refugees in Syria are prohibited from working, so to keep afloat, many refugee children drop out of school to work illegally. According to the U.N., many Iraqi refugee children are three years behind in their education, even though schooling is the key to a brighter future for them.