In the years since the US-led invasion of Iraq, over 4 million Iraqis have been forced to flee their homes, in what amounts to one of the largest people movements in modern times, far exceeding the Palestinian outflow after 1948. Despite media reports of an improved security situation in Iraq, the majority of refugees are still not prepared to return. The social, economic, political and security consequences of the Iraq refugee crisis are huge. In this rigorous and timely book, Joseph Sassoon explores the underlying trends of Iraq's refugee flow: which class, ethnic and sectarian groups have gone - and are continuing to go - where and how. Based on extensive original research, he examines the economic impact of this exodus on Iraq itself, and on the host countries of the region: Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. He analyses international policy on the refugee issue, and assesses the options for return and resettlement. 'The Iraqi Refugees' is both the first and the definitive guide to what will come to be seen as one of the most significant issues affecting the entire Middle East.

'This excellent study is timely and deserving of a wide readership. It is written in a clear, jargon free manner that should make it accessible to a wide audience. I recommend this book to anyone concerned to understand the most critical refugee crisis of the twenty-first century.' - Dawn Chatty, Deputy Director of the Refugee Studies Centre, Oxford University; 'Sassoon convincingly addresses the pressing need to address the plight of the refugees, for both humanitarian and political reasons...Sassoon's book provides a solid and essential building block for future scholarship and an important tool for future scholarship and an important tool for present day policymakers' - Sarah Kenyson Lischer, Middle East Journal; 'This book shows the disastrous effects on the lives of Iraqis of the United States/British invasion of 2003, and the previous 12 years of sanctions imposed by the United Nations...A sobering read that is crammed with information.' - The News Line; 'A welcome and important contribution' - The Middle East in London

Joseph Sassoon is Professor at the Institute for the Study of International Migration at Georgetown University. Born in Baghdad, he completed his doctorate at St Antony's College, Oxford where he became a Fellow. He has been widely published on Iraq's economy and the Middle East region.