Iraqi Refugee Situation

President Bush spoke to reporters in the press briefing room of the White House to announce the administration’s expanded relief effort for Iraqi refugees in northwestern Iraq. Estimates put the number of refugees fleeing persecution from the Iraqi government to be approximately 1.2 million. Humanitarian aid drops have been conducted by the U.S. military since the President’s announcement of the relief program on April 5, but the president said conditions mandated an acceleration of the U.S. military aid. He said U.S., British, and French military forces would begin to set up temporary encampment sites for the refugees in northwestern Iraq, which will be secured from interference from Iraqi troops by the military forces. President Bush stressed that the relief program was not a permanent solution to the Iraqi refugees' problems, and the U.S. would continue its policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of Iraq. The relief effort was part of the American “tradition” of saving hu close