Syria too dangerous for Iraqis
- 12 years ago
Iraqis flee back to the homes they escaped years ago.
This week has seen unprecedented fighting in the Syrian capital of Damascus, and Iraqis who had settled there, are now desperately making their way back across the border.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI REFUGEE, SABIHA ABDULRAHMAN, SAYING:
"The situation in Iraq was unstable but now it is getting better. Syria's situation is horrible we could not even stay in our house, the situation is terrible there in Syria."
Over the past five days, 6,000 Iraqis have shown up at the al-Waleed border crossing in cars and tourist buses.
Some have paid up to seven hundred US dollars to make their escape.
There are about 87,000 Iraqi citizens still in Syria.
But for those crossing the border, there is no guarantee they have left violence behind.
Monday saw the deadliest day in Iraq this year, when multiple blasts and explosions killed more than 100 people.
Sarah Wali,
Reuters
This week has seen unprecedented fighting in the Syrian capital of Damascus, and Iraqis who had settled there, are now desperately making their way back across the border.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI REFUGEE, SABIHA ABDULRAHMAN, SAYING:
"The situation in Iraq was unstable but now it is getting better. Syria's situation is horrible we could not even stay in our house, the situation is terrible there in Syria."
Over the past five days, 6,000 Iraqis have shown up at the al-Waleed border crossing in cars and tourist buses.
Some have paid up to seven hundred US dollars to make their escape.
There are about 87,000 Iraqi citizens still in Syria.
But for those crossing the border, there is no guarantee they have left violence behind.
Monday saw the deadliest day in Iraq this year, when multiple blasts and explosions killed more than 100 people.
Sarah Wali,
Reuters