If you have been reading this blog, you know we recently interviewed hundreds of Iraqi refugees and listened to their stories. Most left Iraq because they watched family members get kidnapped and killed and ultimately their own lives were threatened. I learned that among their many woes, most Iraqis are stuck between a rock and a hard place—they cannot return to iraq (for safety) and cannot move forward by getting resettled (not enough countries willing to help). So they are stuck in their host countries unable to work, school, provide for their family or live, really.

There a  few “lucky” ones who have received resettlement in the U.S. I say “lucky” because Iraqis face MANY challenges when they arrive in US—no family or friends, new language, difficult cultural assimilation and of course financial challenges. Unless they unexpectedly (in this economy) find a job—they are at the mercy of the government support which is miniscule and brief (3 months!), to land on their feet. These are mostly formerly middle-class, professional people now living in poverty.

I was recently introduced to one such Iraqi living in Houston, Texas of all places. Her name is Abeer and she is in great need. Her family all still in Baghdad, she is alone, depressed and out of money, her gov’t subsidy having run out. She has been looking for work unsuccessfully for 3 months.
 
She will have to return to Baghdad if she cannot make it in the U.S. where she will face almost certain death for working with the Americans.  She is a professional woman, 40 years old, a Pyscho-therapist/PHD from Baghdad and a smart and kind woman.

Yet another aspect of this crisis, that we, the U.S created by going into Iraq.

Refugees often think their problems will be over once they get resettlement…but often, their problems multiply. The only thing different is the scenery.