Highlights Situation Overview
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Iraq CRISIS Situation Report No. 45 (20 – 26 May 2015) This report is produced by OCHA Iraq in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 20 – 26 May. Due to the rapidly changing situation it is possible that the numbers and locations listed in this report may no longer be accurate. The next report will be issued on or around 5 June. Highlights Over 180,000 IDPs flee Ramadi District since 8 April Restrictions on BzBiz Bridge eased; stranded residents move into Baghdad and other governorates Humanitarian assistance and essential relief items continue to be deployed to sites hosting displaced Anbar residents Teams continue rapid assessments of camps and sites to better understand to Ramadi IDP needs Map Source(s): IOM DTM 7 May 2015, Clusters, CODs. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Map created on 28 May 2015. Situation Overview Ramadi Displacement Thousands of people continue to flee violence in Ramadi District in Iraq’s western Anbar Governorate. More than 85,000 people have been displaced from Ramadi since 15 May, the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported, the vast majority within Anbar Governorate. According to IOM, over 180,000 people have fled Ramadi since military operations and attacks by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) escalated on 8 April. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) continue to face difficulties exiting Anbar Governorate into the neighbouring governorates of Kerbala and Babylon, as well as into Sulaymaniyah and other governorates. While restrictions into Baghdad Governorate initially stranded thousands of IDPs at the BzBiz Bridge between Anbar and Baghdad governorates, locally sponsored IDPs were able to cross into the governorate from 21 May onwards. As of 24 May, Government authorities confirm some 40,000 IDPs had been granted access through the Bzbiz Bridge following verification of sponsorship. + For more information, see “background on the crisis” at the end of the report www.unocha.org The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Coordination Saves Lives Iraq IDP Crisis Situation Report No. 45 |2 Movement restrictions near Kirkuk Governorate have also been eased. Some 400 IDP families (2,400 individuals) entered Kirkuk Governorate through the Taza checkpoint, with local sponsorship. On 25 May, the Governor of Kirkuk announced the re-opening of the Kirkuk-Baghdad highway which had been closed for nearly three months due to military operations. The highway is currently accessible only to small vehicles, taxis and buses for 12 hours a day for security reasons, according to public statements. Humanitarian actors welcome the re-opening of this road for civilian use, with the hope it will positively impact the normalization of commercial routes and freedom of movement for Iraqi civilians. In Salah Al-Din Governorate, scores of families were denied access to Tooz District, according to unconfirmed reports. These families have moved to areas in Kifri District, Diyala Governorate and Kalar District, Sulaymaniyah Governorate. Approximately 150 IDP families (900 individuals) remain stranded at the Kalar-Kuluju checkpoint between Sulaymaniyah and Diyala governorates as of 24 May. IDPs would only be allowed to enter the governorate if they agree to move to the Quarato IDP Camp, authorities in Kalar District, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, have reiterated. District authorities have also not permitted the installation of latrines in the vicinity of the checkpoint for fear of transforming the checkpoint into a permanent camp. To date, 81 displaced families (approximately 486 individuals) have relocated to the Quarato IDP camp in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, bringing the total number of families at the camp to 200. Over the reporting period a number of UN joint assessments were carried out in Baghdad and Anbar governorates to undertake a rapid needs assessment of camp conditions and staging areas where IDPs gathered. Starting 25 May, UN agencies conducted several joint assessment missions to Abu-Ghraib District, Bzbiz Bridge and Habbaniya Tourist City in Anbar and Baghdad governorates. In Abu Ghraib District, the assessment team cited inadequate sanitation facilities and the presence of skin and water-borne diseases, including a high incidence of diarrhoea amongst children under five years of age. Many of the IDP families in the area are female-headed households. The Primary Health Centre in Abu Ghraib District is functional, although overwhelmed, and is unable to make referrals to the Abu Ghraib Hospital due to the lack of an attending physician. In Habbaniya Tourist City, the assessment team reported insufficient access to clean water, health services, proper sanitation, and emergency shelter. Full assessment reports have been shared with all clusters to ensure a coordinated response to identified needs. Local authorities continue to request assistance from the international community. Humanitarian Response across Iraq The United Nations and partners continued to deliver humanitarian assistance to people with acute and protracted needs in many parts of the country. In Sulaymaniyah Governorate, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) provided a water treatment plant to the Garmiyan Water Directorate for water treatment at the Tazade IDP camp. This complements the planned construction of a borehole and water network for the camp in the next four months. UNICEF procured 95 tons of liquid chlorine and 115 tons of aluminium sulphate for delivery to the Sulaymaniyah Water Directorate to support the water treatment system. On 25 May, the Barznja IDP camp was officially handed over to local authorities in Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The camp, jointly built by the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), provides housing and basic social infrastructure for approximately 900 IDPs. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will identify IDP families willing to be relocated from the now overcrowded Arbat Camp in Sulaymaniyah Governorate. On 25 May, OCHA visited the Shikhan IDP camp in Ninewa Governorate to monitor progress of the recent relocation of 900 Yazidi families from unfinished buildings in Zakho District, Dahuk Governorate. The camp is at full capacity and is functional with all major services provided to new arrivals. Residents, however, have expressed concerns over the camp’s proximity to military frontlines. IDPs report garbage collection, as well as preparation for the approaching summer temperatures remain as issues that need to be addressed. On 24 May, WHO and UNICEF launched a mass polio vaccination campaign targeting 5.7 million children under the age of 5 in Iraq. The campaign will be conducted in all governorates to maintain the country's polio-free status. The last case of polio was reported in Resafa District in Baghdad Governorate on 7 April 2014. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org Iraq IDP Crisis Situation Report No. 45 |3 On 21 May, the communal infrastructure of the Dawodiya IDP camp was handed over to local authorities in Dahuk Governorate. The camp, built jointly by UNDP, UN-Habitat and IOM, was established in January 2015 and currently hosts 680 families originally from Ninewa Governorate, including Telafar and Sinjar districts. In Dahuk Governorate, reports of five cases of H5N1 are currently being investigated by the Department of Health. OCHA will remain in close contact with WHO and Health Cluster colleagues to track any possible development of this situation. There are now four UN Agencies, eleven INGOs and three national NGOs, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) working in Kirkuk Governorate. Of these, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Tearfund and International Medical Corps are now awaiting formal registration by local authorities. CRS is planning shelter and cash assistance projects. Tearfund is undertaking cash assistance activities. Food Security Needs: Food security remains a critical concern for residents and IDPs in Heet, Haditha, Ka'im and Ramadi districts, Anbar Governorate, as well as new IDPs in the town of Nkheeb in Rutba District. Priority food needs were reported for new and existing IDPs as well as returnees in Samarra District in Salah al-Din Governorate, in western and southern districts of Kirkuk Governorate, and Ba’quba District in Diyala Governorate. Returnees to Muqdadiya District in Diyala Governorate are facing difficulties as a result of damaged infrastructure, including agriculture, livestock and irrigation systems. Most of the IDPs are farmers, making food supplies an additional need. Food, including milk for babies, is a priority for IDPs in Resafa and Tarmia districts in Baghdad Governorate. Food supply needs persist for IDPs in the southern governorates of Kerbala, Missan, Basrah, Thi-Qar and Najaf. Baby milk and food supplies are required in Diwaniya District, Qadissiya Governorate, while in Muthanna Governorate new IDPs are in need of food supplies. Response: Food Security Cluster (FSC) partners are distributing daily Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM)