(19 Aug 2012) STORYLINE:
Refugees in the Iraqi desert town of al-Qaim near the Syrian border spent the Eid al-Fitr holiday on Sunday after the holy fasting month of Ramadan ended far from their homes and the civil war in Syria that caused them to flee.
Many grieved being separated from their families on what would normally be a close family occasion.
"We don't feel happy on this Eid," said Syrian refugee Um Salih, while her mother wept beside her.
"Every Eid, we have been visiting each other and congratulating each other while, on this Eid, we feel sad because we are separated from our relatives,'' Salih said.
Al-Qaim, which is 320 kilometres (199 miles) west of Baghdad, has been receiving some of the estimated 150 thousand registered Syrian refugees seeking shelter in UN camps, UN officials said.
Officials have said refugees have been fleeing to Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq to escape the 17-month-old conflict between President Bashar Assad's regime and rebels trying to bring him down.
While Syria's other neighbours have taken in more refugees, the influx still places added strain on an Iraqi government struggling to ensure security and provide basic services to its own people.
Baghdad opened its western border to Syrian refugees on 23 July.
Those who crossed into Iraq near the town of al-Qaim however are reportedly not allowed to travel further into the country.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
