UNHCR says number of Iraqis in Syria drops

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has revealed a drop in the number of Iraqis living in Syria, according to a statement released by the National Media Center. “By the end of September 2009, there were 215,429 Iraqi refugees in Syria with active records in UNHCR’s database of registered refugees (24,624 Christians, 39,554 Shiite Muslims and 134,922 Sunni Muslims),” read the statement that was received by IraqiNews.com news agency. The report has shown a remarkable drop in the number of Iraqi students in Syrian state schools. The report attributed the drop in the number of Iraqi refugees to their return home due to economic reasons. SS (P) 1