Refugees from Iraq in Buffalo
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The country of Iraq suffers from war and terrorism on a daily basis. Currently the population of Iraq is approximately 28 million, of whom about 75% are Arab, 17% are Kurds and the remainder mostly Armenians, Assyrians and Turks. The turmoil in Iraq includes violent disputes among Sunni Muslim and Shi’ite Muslim; persecution due to political allegiance; and targeting of vulnerable populations, such as women, by militias and insurgents. Over two million Iraqis have relocated outside of the country to Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon and Turkey. Unlike other refugee groups, Iraqi refugees typically have not spent much time in refugee camps. Since 2003, New York State has resettled 2,614 Iraqi refugees, including 391 in the 2013 fiscal year. Many of these have been resettled in Erie County.