Contact: Laurie Kassman, Communications Department 202-785-5336

The Middle East Institute announces a special edition of Viewpoints, “Iraq’s Refugee and IDP Crisis: Human Toll and Implications.” This wide-ranging mega-collection of essays, maps, statistics, refugee testimonies and a comprehensive biography seeks to address core issues concerning the status of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

An MEI briefing on August 11, 2008 will feature Viewpoints contributors (details below).

Provocative essays by 14 policy experts aim to stimulate discussion on the current and future challenges for Iraqis uprooted by conflict and instability. MEI President and former Deputy High Commissioner for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Wendy Chamberlin prefaces the collection. The resource-rich series includes detailed maps, data on the size and location of refugee populations, refugee testimonies and a bibliography of more than 150 publications on the subject.

Phebe Marr, a leading Iraq expert and member of the Board of Advisory Editors of The Middle East Journal introduces the articles. In her essay, Dr. Marr warns: “Over the longer term, if much of the refugee population currently residing in neighboring countries neither succeeds in returning to Iraq nor becomes well integrated where they are now settled, the region may face serious political – and even security problems.” (a podcast interview with Dr. Marr will be available at www.mideasti.org)

Other contributors include Nasir Ahmed Al-Samaraie, Nabil Al-Tikriti, Orit Bashkin, Géraldine Chatelard, Didem Danış, Elizabeth Campbell, Beth Ferris, Dana Graber Ladek, Joseph Logan, David Romano, Joseph Sassoon, Rhodri Williams, Kristele Younes, and Nomi Stone.

“Iraq’s Refugee and IDP Crisis: Human Toll and Implications” is accessible at http://www.mideasti.org/publications/iraqs-refugee-idp-crisis.

MEET THE AUTHORS

Special MEI Discussion on “Iraq’s Refugee and IDP Crisis: Human Toll and Implications”
with MEI President Wendy Chamberlin and Viewpoints contributors Phebe Marr and Elizabeth Ferris

Monday, August 11, 2008
12:00-1:30 p.m.
Middle East Institute
Boardman Room
1761 N St. NW
Washington, DC 20036

Since 1946, the Middle East Institute has been dedicated to increasing Americans’ knowledge and understanding of the region. MEI offers program activities, media outreach, language courses, scholars and an academic journal to help achieve its goals. Please visit www.mideasti.org for more information.

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