The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Antonio Guterres, has appealed to the international community for "genuine solidarity and unstinting aid to displaced Iraqis and to the states housing them." Nearly 4 million Iraqis have been forced from their homes during the conflict. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have appealed for 18.2 million Swiss francs (almost £7.5 million [or $15 million]) to assist some 100,000 displaced Iraqi families. [Reuters, April 17] UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has asked neighbouring countries to continue to provide sanctuary to Iraqi refugees. [AlJazeera, April 17]

From Madrid11.net Security Briefs, April 17

See our last posts on Iraq and the refugee crisis.