W A S S I T POST-FEBRUARY 2006 IDP NEEDS ASSESSMENTS JUNE 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS Section: Page:
I. IOM Assessment Background 1 II. IDP Overview 2 1. Governorate Background 2. IDP Entry 3. Ethnicity and Religion 4. Places of origin 5. Reasons for displacement 6. Outline of pre-existing IDP population 7. IDP relations w/ host community 8. Intentions of recently assessed IDPs III. Emergency Assessment & Needs 5 1. Security 5 i. Security ii. Vulnerabilities iii. Women & Children 2. Shelter and Basic Services 6 i. Shelter (living arrangements) ii. Food/PDS iii. Water & Sanitation iv. Fuel & Electricity v. Health Care vi. Education 3. Legal 10 i. Property Issues ii. Documentation IV. Humanitarian Assistance Received 10 V. Priority Needs 11 1. Top Priority Needs 2. Areas in Need of Priority Assistance 3. Recommendations for Assistance VI. Conclusion 12
I. POST-FEBRUARY 22 IDP ASSESSMENTS: BACKGROUND
An alarming increase in displacement after the Samarra shrine bombing in February 2006 has highlighted the need for in-depth needs assessments of recently displaced populations. IOM conducts assessments in the central and southern 15 governorates, complementing the registration work conducted by other entities, such as the Ministry of Displacement and Migration.
IOM monitors use IDP Rapid Assessment Templates created in coordination with Cluster F 1 and the IDP Working Group. Monitors gather information from MoDM, IDP tribal and community leaders, local NGOs, local government bodies, and individual IDP families. Based on this information, IOM is distributing Iraq Displacement Assessments and Statistics reports, Governorate Assessment Profiles, and Displacement Year in Review reports.2 This information is assisting IOM and other agencies to prioritize areas of operation, plan emergency responses, and design long-term, durable solutions programs.
IOM’s assessment efforts are ongoing; this should be kept in mind when reading statistics that are represented over time. Also, some statistics represent questions that allowed multiple responses.
1 The UN Country Team cluster for IDPs, Refugees, and Durable Solutions, of which IOM is Deputy Cluster Coordinator. 2 Available at http://www.iom-iraq.net/idp.html
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION II. IDP OVERVIEW
Percentages on map show distribution by district of the post-Feb. 2006 IDP population covered by IOM’s assessment.
Capital: Kut
Districts: Al-Hai, Al-Na’maniya, Al- Suwaira, Badra, Kut Population (as per 939,000 individuals Badra 1997 2% Al-Suwaira census): Total IDPs 29 % post-Feb. 8,931 families (est. 53,586 2006 3: individuals) Wassit 53 % A Total IDP l-N Kut a' and IDP ma niy returnees a pre-Feb. 1,870 (est. 11,220 5% Al-Hai 22, 2006 4: individuals) 11 %
1. Governorate Background Missan
The governorate of Wassit is located in the upper southern region of Iraq. The north-eastern limit of the governorate is the Iraq-Iran border. Wassit is an important trade center for fruit, vegetables, dates and grain, which can be shipped north to Baghdad and south to Missan and Basrah via the Tigris River.
The Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) estimates that 8,931 families, or an estimated 53,586 individuals , have been displaced to Wassit since February 20065.
IOM’s assessments cover 6,837 families of the total displaced 6. Average family size is six persons, yielding an estimated total of 41,022 individuals assessed. (Note that these are numbers of IDPs assessed by IOM, not total per governorate.)
2. IDP Entry into Governorate:
To date, there are no official restrictions on IDP entry into Wassit. However, it is reported IDPs must be sponsored by a government employee in order to be registered 7.
3. Ethnicity and Religion :
All IDPs assessed in Wassit were Shia Arab.
4. Places of Origin :
The majority of IDPs who fled to Wassit originated from Baghdad, while most of the rest came from Diyala. Wassit’s proximity to these two governorates makes it an attractive destination for many IDPs.
3 As per Ministry of Displacement and Migration. See May 2007 MoDM report “Internally Deportees and Displaced Families of 15 Governorates” 4 As per IOM’s Phase I monitoring, September 2005 5 May 2007 MoDM report “Internally Deportees and Displaced Families of 15 Governorates” 6 The monitors use templates for both IDP groups and individual IDP families; therefore, information obtained from group templates applies to multiple families. 7 See Cluster F IDPs in Iraq Update 23 May 2007
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Places of origin for IDPs in Wassit:
Kirkuk, 1% Anbar, 1% Babylon, 1%
Diyala, 26%
Baghdad, 71%
5. Reasons for Displacement :
In contrast with IDPs in other governorates, all those assessed in Wassit cited generalized violence as their main reason for fleeing. Many IDPs in Iraq report that they fled direct threats to their lives, but of those in Wassit only 1% reported direct threats to life as a motive.
IDPs listed their top reasons for fleeing as follows:
Direct threats to life 1%
Left out of fear 4%
Generalized 100% violence
When asked why they or their families were targeted, nearly all (99.6%) IDPs assessed in Wassit said that it was because of their religious identity. Some added that their political views were a factor. All IDPs assessed in Wassit had been displaced only once.
Reported dates of displacement were as follows:
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Jul/2006 Oct/2006 Apr/2007 Apr/2006 Jan/2007 Mar/2007 Mar/2006 Jun/2006 Nov/2006 Aug/2006 Feb/2007 Feb/2006 May/2006 Dec/2006 Sep/2006
Please note that this is not a representation of population displacement rate in Iraq. This simply represents the various dates of displacement reported by those IDPs in the sample IOM assesses. Since assessments are ongoing, the fact that few IDPs reported dates of displacement in 2007 does not mean that fewer Iraqis are being displaced; it simply means that these populations are just now being identified during the assessments.
6. Outline of Pre-Existing IDP Population (pre-February 22, 2006)
1,870 IDP and IDP returnee families were assessed by IOM before February 2006. Most of these families were affected by the hostilities in April 2003 between the Multi-National Forces in Iraq (MNF-I) and local militias throughout the southern part of the country.
While only marginally affected by the displacement of the Marsh Arabs resulting from the drainage of the Marshes, after 2003, Wassit governorate also experienced incoming flows of IDPs pushed south by the reversal of the Arabization campaign in the center governorates.
The majority of the caseloads were displaced to the districts of Al-Suwaira and Kut, where 66% were accommodated in camp-like settlements in the outskirts of the main urban centers, 17% in public buildings and a few mixed in with the host communities.
More than 50% of the families displaced in Wassit were IDPs who tried to move back to their places of origin after the fall of the former regime. However, the destruction at the locations of origin and the lack of resources to rebuild houses and infrastructure prevented these families from successfully returning to their villages.
7. IDP Population’s Relationship with the Host Community
Less than 1% of those assessed did not feel well-received by the host community. In certain areas, host community members are afraid to rent houses to IDPs from insecure regions such as Baghdad and Diyala due to security concerns. Also, some IDPs complained of socio-cultural differences, especially Wassit’s more conservative restrictions on women’s movement, higher education, and employment.
8. Intentions of post-February 22 IDPs :
Few IDPs assessed in Wassit intend to return home; many plan to move to a third location, and assistance planning should take this into consideration. IDP intentions are as follows :
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION 4%
6% 53% Resettle in a third location
Locally integrate in the current location Waiting on one or several 37% factors to make a decision Return to their place of origin
The majority (58%) of IDPs assessed in Wassit responded that they will wait until the security situation improves to implement their intentions, although an unusually high percentage (19%) reported that they would implement their intentions within the next six months. If this is indeed true and the security situation permits, large numbers of families could be moving from Wassit to resettle in another location.
III. EMERGENCY ASSESSMENT AND NEEDS
1. Security & Vulnerabilities
Security
The security situation in Wassit has been relatively stable over the last few months. Occasional bombings prompt more restrictive security procedures. Insurgents fleeing from Baghdad and Diyala have crossed into some northern areas of Wassit. Increased numbers of checkpoints hinder IDP movement, especially those whose origin makes authorities suspicious that they may support the insurgency. All IDPs assessed reported that they felt safe in their current location.
No IDPs assessed reported needing authorization to move from their current location, while 2% reported having to pass through a checkpoint in order to move near their homes.
Two percent (2%) of IDP families reported a death or serious injury within their families since they were displaced. However, none of these were attributed to militants, MNF-I/IF, other citizens, or mine accidents.
No IDPs assessed reported that family members were unaccounted for. Four percent (4%) reported that members had been detained.
Vulnerabilities
Nine percent (9%) reported vulnerabilities among the family members. Of those who have vulnerabilities, the types are as follows:
Elderly person 35.9% Female head of household 24.4% Pregnant woman 35.3% Person with serious illness 4.2% Person with mental disability 0.1%
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Other vulnerability 0.1%
Women & Children
Displacement is especially difficult for women and children, who need unique types of health care and nutrition. IOM assesses IDP gender and age breakdown to facilitate appropriate humanitarian aid.
In some areas in Wassit, monitors observed a high frequency of premature births. These occur in areas where pregnant women must perform strenuous labor, such as carrying water over distances. Appropriate neonatal care is unavailable in these locations. Some mothers are suffering various diseases caused by unsafe drinking water. These reduce mothers’ ability to breast-feed, causing dehydration and malnutrition, negatively affecting the health of their infants.
In areas with a severe shortage of potable water, IDP children do not wash themselves and many are suffering skin diseases, including fungal infections. They also suffer abdominal problems from drinking contaminated river water.
In Wassit, assessments revealed that displacement is close to equally distributed among females and males. The following information was obtained through interviews with 30 families (244 individuals):
Gender:
Female 47% Male 53%
Breakdown per gender and age group:
Age Total Male Female Total 100% 53% 47% Less than 1 10% 4% 6% 1 to 4 23% 13% 11% 5 to 17 31% 18% 13% 18 to 60 34% 18% 16% More than 60 2% 2% 1%
2. Shelter and Basic Services
Shelter (living arrangements)
Rented housing was the most frequently reported living arrangement among IDPs assessed in Wassit, although many also live with family or friends. Rental prices have risen throughout the governorate, making it very difficult for low-income families to keep their housing. In Hay Al-
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Jawadain, Al-Sawada village, and Al-Hawraa IDP families live in mud and reed houses. In Kut Camp 8, IDPs live in tents which are vulnerable to the weather.
Following is the breakdown of shelter for IDPs assessed:
Rented housing 42.8% In the house of host family or relatives 28.2% Collective town / settlement 12.5% Other 10.3% Public building 6.0% Tent in camp 0.2% Tent near house of host family or relatives 0.1%
Less than 1% of those assessed reported that they face pressure to leave their current residence, all of which was attributed to relatives.
Food/Public Distribution System (PDS)
As is the case throughout Iraq, transfer of PDS ration card registration requires a lengthy bureaucratic procedure. The majority of IDPs report access to PDS at least some of the time, and a few have no access. In some areas, such as Kut Camp, the host community and local charities supply food to the IDPs.
When asked if they can access PDS food rations, IDPs answered as follows:
Not at all, 5% Yes, always, 18% Sometimes, 77%
This can be further broken down by district:
Yes, Not at District always all Sometimes Al-Hai 11% 89% Al-Na'maniya 7% 93% Al-Suwaira 16% 6% 78% Badra 7% 11% 82% Kut 23% 5% 71%
8 For information on camps, see upcoming July IOM update on camps in the fifteen central and southern governorates
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Reasons presented for lack of PDS access are as follows:
Food transportation route insecure 90.0% Delay transferring PDS registration to new location 10.2% Other 0.1%
In addition, 30% of those who did receive rations said that they were missing items.
Only 24% of IDPs assessed reported that they receive food assistance from other sources besides the PDS. Religious charities and humanitarian organizations provided most of this aid:
Of those who received food Of total assessed Religious charities 40.5% 9.8% Humanitarian organizations 39.9% 9.7% Others 17.1% 4.1% National authorities 17.0% 4.1% Regional authorities 7.4% 1.8%
Types of food received :
Of those who received food Of total assessed Dried food 66.9% 9.8% Dried food / Intermediate food 26.4% 3.9% Fresh food 4.2% 0.6% Dried food / Fresh food / Intermediate food 1.4% 0.2% Intermediate food 1.1% 0.2%
Water and Sanitation
Fourteen percent (14%) of IDPs assessed in Wassit do not have regular access to water. Even when IDPs do have access, it is not necessarily clean water. Some IDPs depend on river water for all their water needs, creating a health hazard. IDPs in Hay Al-Jawadain, Kut district have no water network and depend on intermittent municipal water trucking. When the trucks are late, they drink from drainage canals.
In Al-Hakeem neighborhood, Al-Kut district, female IDPs carry water from another neighborhood over 1km away. In other areas IDPs illegally tap into host community water pipes, which lowers water pressure and causes communal tension. In Kut camp, IDPs depend on water tanks that are refilled weekly by water trucks.
IDPs reported access to the following water sources:
Of those with access Of total assessed Municipal water (underground pipes) 86.3% 73.8% Rivers, streams or lakes 23.2% 19.8% Open / broken pipe 19.4% 16.6% Water tanks / trucks 13.4% 11.5% Public wells 7.7% 6.6% Other sources 2.9% 2.4%
Seventeen percent (17%) of IDPs assessed do not have access to toilets, which is extremely high compared to other governorates. Rural areas in Al-Suwaira district lack adequate sanitation;
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION sewage sometimes makes the unpaved roads impassable, preventing IDPs from going to work. In Al-Jawadain, IDPs defecate in the open because there is no sewage system.
Fuel & Electricity
Most IDPs living in rented housing have electricity from the main network. Some poorer IDPs have illegally tapped into power lines. In Hay Al-Jawadain, Kut district, there is no electrical network and IDPs cannot afford generators.
Fifteen percent (15%) of IDPs assessed cannot access electricity at all:
Four or more hours per day 72.3% No electricity 15.2% 1-3 hours per day 12.5%
Forty-two percent (42%) of IDPs assessed in Wassit report that they do not have access to fuel, either due to lack of availability or finances. Those who do can access the following types:
Of those with access Of total assessed Benzene 16.6% 9.6% Diesel 46.5% 26.9% Kerosene 21.9% 12.7% No Access to fuel 72.8% 42.1% Propane 80.0% 46.3%
Health Care
Although most (92%) IDPs assessed have access to at least basic health care, there is a widespread shortage of medication: 71% reported that they could not access medications that they need. Hospitals and clinics suffer a shortage of medication, equipment and qualified staff. An unusually high percentage (39%) of those assessed reported suffering infectious ∗ diseases/epidemics in the past 45 days .
Those who could not access health care said that services were unavailable, too far away, or unaffordable. In Al-Sawada village, Kut district the nearest health center is 10km away. In Al- Hawraa, there is no clinic so IDPs must go to Kut district center. In Al-Sarae and Al-Asree, IDPs complained that the clinics lacked sufficient medication, equipment and staff.
Twenty-eight percent (28%) of IDPs assessed in Wassit have been visited by a health care ∗ worker in the past 30 days . Services provided are as follows:
Of those who were visited Of total assessed Vaccinations 92.4% 26.3% Drug distribution 7.5% 2.1% Medical examination 0.1% 0.0%
Forty-seven percent (47%) of IDPs assessed reported being involved in a vaccination campaign. ∗ These IDPs received vaccinations during the following timeframe :
Last month 61.5%
∗ From date of interview
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Last week 28.2% 1-3 months ago 10.4%
Education
There were no reported problems with IDP school registration, although the difficult conditions in which IDPs live make it hard for children to effectively learn. Educational facilities in some areas are limited. In Al-Badria village there is only a primary school; older students must travel to the sub-district center or the governorate capital. In Al-Qudis camp, children must cross a busy highway to reach school, which is extremely dangerous.
3. Legal Concerns
Property Issues
It is common for IDPs to leave property behind during their displacement. When IDPs in Wassit were asked what had become of the property they left behind, nearly all said that they did not know. Many surmised that it had been destroyed. Responses were as follows:
Do not know 96.6% Property destroyed 24.8% Property accessible 2.5% Property occupied, controlled or claimed by private citizens 2.4% Property currently in military use 1.0%
Those 30 individual families who were interviewed were asked if they had property they left behind. Responses were as follows:
House 96.7% Land for agriculture 26.7% Apartment or room 3.3%
IDPs assessed in Wassit were able to take the following with them when they were displaced:
Car transportation 67.9% Winter clothing 56.1% Food 47.8% Tools 45.2% Livestock 34.3% Other 25.0%
Documentation
IDPs assessed in Wassit possess the following forms of documentation:
Nationality certificates 99.3% ID cards 98.9% Marriage documents 96.7% Birth certificates 70.7% Passports 20.1% Other documents 9.5% Death certificates 6.2%
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION
IV. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE RECEIVED
Seventy-six percent (76%) of IDPs assessed in Wassit reported that they have received humanitarian assistance since they fled. Most of this assistance was provided by MoDM:
Of those who received aid Of total assessed MoDM 91.1% 69.6% Iraqi Red Crescent 31.3% 23.9% Humanitarian organizations 17.2% 13.1% Religious Group 16.1% 12.3% Relatives 14.1% 10.8% Host community 12.1% 9.2% Other Iraqi Government body 11.2% 8.5%
These organizations provided the following:
69% 48% 20% 2%
Food Non Food Items Other Health
V. PRIORITY NEEDS
Top priority needs:
Unemployment is prevalent throughout Iraq, and even more so within the IDP populations. Work was the most frequently mentioned priority need. Food and shelter were also frequently mentioned. Priority needs were as follows:
Hygiene 1%
Education 1%
Sanitation 2%
Other 5%
Legal Help 12%
Health 17%
Water 22%
Shelter 62%
Food 83%
Access to Work 95%
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Areas/Populations in Need of Priority Assistance:
There are eight IDP families in Kut district who live in roofless block houses. Their children are suffering recurrent chest infections because of their exposure to the elements. They urgently need plastic sheets to cover their shelter.
In Al-Jawadain, Kut district there are 23 IDP families who were forced to move because they could no longer afford their rent. They urgently need job opportunities, non-food items, and fuel.
In Al-Kahrimya and Al-Khajiya neighbourhoods, Kut district there are 12 IDP families who have not transferred their PDS cards and have no source of income. They have been unable to find employment because competition is strong from the host community. They depend on the host community for food and fuel, and are keeping their children home from school so that they can work and support the family. They urgently need food, water tanks, legal help to transfer PDS cards, and fans for the summer.
There are 10 IDP families in Balasim village, Al-Hai district. They were dependent on pensions as income in their place of origin; now, since they cannot obtain their pension in their place of displacement, they are forced to rely on assistance from their relatives and the host community. They urgently require food and legal help with their pensions and the Social Protection Network.
Recommendations for Assistance:
IDPs and community leaders recommended the following community assistance projects:
• Pave roads in the outskirts of Al Basha’er sub-district • Extend electric network to Al-Yousifia village, Kut district because the village is 2km away from the nearest power source • Establish fish farm income generation by rivers in Al-Baqaratain village, Al-Na’maniya district • Pave roads in Al-Suwaira district • Establish water pipe network in Al-Hakeem neighbourhood, Kut District • Establish electric network in Um-Hleel village, of Kut district • Pave road in Um-Hleel village, Kut district, which will improve water trucking services • Rehabilitate water unit in Al-Hawraa neighbourhood • Establish health center or extend the current one in Al-Hafriya sub-district • Expand water network in Al-Ahrar sub-district, Al-Na’maniya district • Build water pipe to Al-Falahiya neighbourhood, Kut district • Expand electric network or supply generators for Al-Jawadain, Kut district • Connect Al-Jawadain, Kut district with main water network to provide potable water • Supply large garbage containers to Al-Jawadain, Kut district • Rehabilitate purification unit and build water pipes for Balasim village • Extend pipes or supply water tanks for Al-Qudis camp, Al-Aziziya • Establish primary school for Al-Qudis camp, Al-Aziziya
CONCLUSION
All IDPs assessed in Wassit were Shia Arab, most of whom had fled from Baghdad or Diyala. Although all said they fled because of sectarian discrimination, they cited generalized violence rather than direct threats or forced displacement. Only 4% of those assessed in Wassit plan to return to their place of origin. Around a third plan to integrate locally, while the majority intends to move again, probably in search of a more comfortable environment and better economic
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION opportunities. Although the host community has accepted them, some IDPs find it difficult to adjust to Wassit’s religiously conservative environment.
Security in Wassit has been stable recently, although security procedures are strict. IDPs from certain areas are often suspected of being associated with insurgents. Rented housing is the most frequent living arrangement for IDPs, but an unusually high number are living with host family/relatives or in collective settlements.
PDS access for IDPs in Wassit is relatively good, with only 5% having no access at all. However, in some neighborhoods IDPs have not been able to transfer their PDS cards and are therefore suffering a severe shortage of food. Only a quarter of those assessed had received food assistance from other sources, which is unusually low. Some IDPs lack access to water, and in certain areas the water they can access is not clean. There is also a sanitation problem, with an unusually high percentage (17%) unable to access toilets. There is also a shortage of fuel and a lack of electricity in certain areas.
Most (92%) have access to health care, although many reported a shortage of medication. A very high percentage (39%) of IDPs reported suffering infectious diseases or epidemics. Over half of the assessed families had not been recently vaccinated.
The majority (77%) of those assessed had received humanitarian assistance, most of it from MoDM. This included food and some significant quantities of non-food items and health assistance. Thanks to this aid, the general humanitarian situation of IDPs in Wassit governorate is relatively good. Future humanitarian aid should target vulnerable groups in certain areas where there is an urgent need in a range of sectors, particularly food, sanitation, and water. Although most have PDS access, 83% of those assessed still reported food as a high priority need. Access to work was IDP’s priority concern, since better finances would allow them to meet their needs themselves. Humanitarian aid should seek to meet IDP’s short-term basic needs while assisting them in finding durable solutions.
For further information on IDP displacement in Iraq, please contact Martin Ocaga, IOM Iraq IDP Program Manager at [email protected] (+962 79 64 00581) or Dana Graber, Iraq Displacement Specialist, at [email protected] (+962 79 611 1759).
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