U.S. increases aid to nations educating Iraqi refugees

The top U.S. envoy on refugees announced August 28 that the United States will increase its support to countries hosting Iraqi refugees with a $30 million grant for education. Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey said the money will help pay for schooling in countries like Jordan. Jordan and Syria host the largest percentage of the more than 2 million Iraqis who have been displaced by the war and the countries have complained of the increasing burden on their health and education systems. Sauerbrey told reporters the United States expected to allow in some 2,000 Iraqi refugees by the end of September but ruled out taking in large numbers. Read the article in The Seattle Times online.