D I YA L A POST-FEBRUARY 22 EMERGENCY IDP MONITORING AND ASSESSMENTS DECEMBER 14, 2006

Capital: Districts: Baqubah, Al-Muqdadiya, Al- Khalis, Baladrooz, , Total post-Feb. 22 IDPs as of reporting date : 3,404 families Total IDPs pre-Feb. 22: 9,100 families

POST-FEBRUARY 22 EMERGENCY IDP MONITOR I NG AND NEEDS ASSESSMENTS: BACKGROUND

An alarming increase in displacement due to heightened tensions after the bombing of the Askariya shrine in on February 22, 2006 brought to light the need for comprehensive, thorough monitoring and assessments of the recently-displaced populations. IOM has been assessing IDPs displaced since February 22 in the central and southern 15 governorates in .

The monitors use IDP Rapid Assessment Templates for both IDP groups and individual IDP families. The IDP Rapid Assessment Template addresses a number of issues and needs, including food, health care, water and sanitation, documentation, and property. In addition, the templates outline the IDPs’ future intentions. Monitors visit IDP tribal and community leaders, local NGOs, local government bodies, and individual IDP families to gather information and complete the templates. Once the information is gathered, it is then entered into a database for analysis.

After the information from the templates is collected and analyzed, IOM returns to the governorates to gather additional information from the field. This additional information provides a more in-depth look at the situation and issues surrounding displacement in each governorate.

With this information, IOM is developing Governorate Needs Assessments for the 15 central and southern governorates in Iraq. These Governorate Needs Assessments will assist IOM and other agencies to prioritize areas of operation, plan emergency responses, and design long-term, durable solutions programs.

POST-FEBRUARY 22 IDP OVERVIEW

Background

Diyala governorate stretches across 17,865 square kilometers to the northeast of . Diyala is a fertile agricultural region through the and its branches. The Munthariya border point, a border crossing and trade point with Iran, once provided the with extensive revenue.

The governorate is characterized by a complex and sensitive situation in terms of population. The presence of high numbers of secondary displaced Arabs in Diyala, in addition to the Kurdish IDP

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION returnees in the north coupled with the proximity to the border with Iran on one side and with the Green Line on the other, makes for a particularly fragile security situation. The governorate has a history of ethnic mixing and changing political agendas, creating tension among the different ethnic communities.

Diyala increasingly is considered to be one of the most dangerous governorates in Iraq. Baqubah experiences daily assassinations, bombings, or other forms of violence. Sectarian and ethnic rifts across the country fuel the violence as the various communities try to gain control of their area. Areas with high level of instability include Baqubah, Miqdadiya and and areas that are somewhat stable include Khanaqin, Mandilee (part of Baladrooz district) and Kifri.

Due to the security situation, it has been especially difficult lately for monitors to safely reach the displaced populations. Sometimes IDP families refuse to be interviewed due to fear, so monitors must work closely with local leaders and humanitarian organizations to introduce them to IDP families and alleviate their concerns. Increased displacement within and from Diyala is found with the deteriorating stability.

The following information provides an overview of the current situation, highlights needs, and suggested areas of intervention relating to recently-displaced IDPs in Diyala. Information was gathered from a variety of sources: IDP representatives, the IDP host community, local authorities, the Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) branch office, partner NGOs and other NGOs working in these areas.

Despite increasing insecurity and instability throughout Iraq, IOM strives to stay abreast with updated and accurate information. Displacement is ongoing, however, and displacement information changes on a daily basis.

Total displaced :

As of the reporting date (December 14), 3,404 families were identified and assessed. The majority of these IDPs were displaced to or within Baquba, the capital and most unstable city in Diyala. Baqubah hosts 1,630 families (48% of those assessed), Baladrooz hosts 789 families (23%), Al-Muqdadiya has 395 families (12%), 311 (9%) live in Al-Khalis, 262 live in Khanaqin (8%), and 17 families live in Kifri (less than 1%).

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Ethnicity and Religion :

IDPs in Diyala reflect the diversity encountered in the host population. 86.5% (2,944 families) are Arab, 13% (454 families) are Kurd, and less than 1% (2 families) was reported as Turkmen. Four families chose not to answer.

IDPs are both Shia and Sunni Muslims. 53% reported that they are Shia, and 47% said they are Sunni. Both Shias and Sunnis are being displaced from within Diyala and from the surrounding central governorates. IDPs fleeing the south are primarily Sunni.

Places of Origin :

IDPs in Diyala come from numerous governorates, mainly those in the center and a couple in the south, namely Basrah and Babylon. The majority were displaced from within Diyala or from Baghdad, with a few coming from other locations.

The percentages from each of the governorates of origin are as follows:

Diyala: 62% Baghdad: 37% Anbar: less than 1% Basrah: less than 1% Babylon: less than 1% Salah al Din: less than 1% Tameem: less than 1% (see chart below)

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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION IDPs' Place of origin (Dyiala)

Baghdad Anbar 36.72% 0.71%

Tameem 0.03%

Basrah 0.18% Dyiala 61.84% Salah al-Din 0.50%

Babylon 0.03%

Reasons for Displacement :

IDPs listed various reasons for leaving their place of origin, but they overwhelmingly left due to direct threats to their lives. This takes the form of threats to abduct or assassinate individuals or their families or other veiled threats communicated though cell phone calls or texts, graffiti on buildings or walls in the community, or leaflets. 94% reported that they left due to these threats, 45% left because they were forcibly displaced, 49% fled out of fear, 28% left due to armed conflict, 20% left due to generalized conflict, and 2% cited “other reasons”. (IDPs could provide multiple reasons for why they left, as motivating factors are often complex and due to more than one reason, but all are a result of various forms of violence.)

When asked if they thought the group or family members were targeted, 95% said they were targeted due to belonging to a certain religion or sect. IDPs interviewed in Diyala provided a greater variety of reasons than IDPs interviewed elsewhere. 45% also cited holding a certain political opinion as a reason for being targeted, 13% blamed belonging to a certain ethnicity, and a bit more than 1% said belonging to a certain social or professional group made them a target.

Almost 100% said they were displaced only one time since February 22. Six families have been displaced two times.

The majority left their place of origin in July; otherwise displacement was continuous since February. The breakdown is as follows: March: 4% April: 15% May: 11% June: 9% July: 27% August: 8% September: 16% October: 4% November: 6%

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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Overview of IDP camps :

There is not a camp in Diyala due to numerous factors, most importantly high instability and security concerns. Maintaining overall security would be difficult, and it is dangerous to group people of a certain ethnicity or sect into a camp, due to the current environment of tension and violence related to ethnicity and sect, especially in Diyala.

(This governorate contains one camp located in the Mandilee sub-district (Baladrooz district) in an area called Kaprat Village for IDPs displaced prior to February. It was established by the Ministry of Human Rights in Kurdistan (KRG) and an NGO and contains 40 tents and 25 families. Currently, the camp is under the supervision of a special committee formed by the sub-district directorate.)

Outline of Already-Existing IDP Population (pre-February 22, 2006)

IOM assessed a total of 9,100 IDPs displaced before February. This number can be broken down into 6,691 families displaced post-2003 and 2,409 families displaced pre-2003.

The secondary displacement population is by far the largest caseload in Diyala. Many families decided to remain in their current place in Diyala and spontaneously began to set up self-built settlements, often mud houses. One of the main concerns is land tenure.

In the north of Diyala, the number of IDP returnees has increased consistently in past months, up to an assessed number of almost 3,000 families. Many of these families are originally from Khanaqin, some of whom decided to return upon deterioration of security or military operations in their place of residence, such as , , Baghdad, Samarra, and Babylon.

Many families displaced before 2003 have integrated well in their current location

As for IDP and refugee returnees, many Kurdish families have already returned to Khanaqin, a trend that is expected to continue. Some of them have no property in the area or have returned to find their homes destroyed with very little means to re-build or rehabilitate their property. As a result, many of these families remain or have become IDPs, living in tents or other makshift shelter as their only available means of accommodation. A local committee in Khanaqin allocated land to some families. Some families in better economic conditions have started building their own houses from brick.

IDP Population’s Relationship with the Host Community

Despite instability in Diyala and a variety of ethnicities and religious sects that create contention in the various communities, IDPs in Diyala report that they have been well received by the host communities. In general, IDPs are moving from religiously and ethnically mixed communities to homogenous communities, so the host community often has the same background as the IDPs and good relations are maintained. The host community was also cited as providing humanitarian assistance to newly-arrived IDPs

However, as the security continues to deteriorate and more IDPs move to and within Diyala, increasing the demand for housing and increasing the prices of local goods, the relations between IDPs and host communities will be strained.

Intentions of post-February 22 IDPs :

As is the case with most IDPs displaced to or within the volatile central governorates, the majority of IDPs in Diyala plan to return to their place of origin. 74% reported that this was their intention, while 11% said they would locally integrate into their current location, and 15% intend to resettle

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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION in a third location. Five families said they did not know and were waiting on several factors to make their decision.

The breakdown for IDP intentions is as follows:

IDPs' Intentions (Dyiala)

80.0%

70.0%

Return to their place of 60.0% origin 73.9%

50.0%

40.0%

30.0%

20.0%

10.0% Resettle in a third Waiting on one or several Locally integrate in the location factors to make a decision current location 14.8% 0.1% 11.2% 0.0% IDPs' Intentions

When asked about their timeframe for implementing their intentions, an overwhelming majority (85%) will whenever the security situation improves. Violence and instability in both Diyala and their place of origin (and throughout Iraq) make it too difficult to confirm when they will return, move elsewhere, or permanently settle. 2% said they would implement their intentions in less than six months, 3% said within six to twelve months, and 2% will wait longer than a year before implementing their intentions (8% did not respond).

EMERGENCY ASSESSMENT AND NEEDS

Security :

Instability and insecurity are continuously increasing in Diyala, especially in Baqubah. IDP monitors at times cannot access IDP communities, especially those in Sunni areas, where armed conflict is especially high.

Despite the persistent instability and violence in Diyala, almost all of the IDPs report that they feel relatively safe in their current location, or at least safer than in their place of origin. Less than 1% (14 families) does not feel safe in their current location.

IDPs were asked whether family members have been injured, killed or involved in other security issues. No one reported that group or family members have been detained since they were displaced. However, numerous families have experienced deaths of family members. 1% had a member killed by another citizen, 3% had a member killed by militants, less than 1% (6 families) reported a member being involved in a mine accident, and 18% of families reported “other

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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION deaths” and 15% reported “other injuries”. 2% of families also reported that a member was still unaccounted for.

No one requires authorization to move from their current location. In addition, no one reported that they have to pass through checkpoints for daily movement near their home, and no one reported other restrictions on their freedom of movement due to the security situation.

Shelter :

IDPs interviewed in Diyala overwhelmingly listed shelter as their number one priority need. Lack of employment, increased competition for shelter, lack of families or friends who provide shelter, overcrowded conditions in their homes in places of displacement, and inadequate shelter all contribute to this need.

The majority of families (62%) rent shelter. The biggest challenge for them is a lack of funds to cover their rent due to a lack of employment. Many families thought their displacement would be temporary or that they would be able to find employment in their current location. Some renters are forced to move to less expensive, sometimes inadequate shelter.

Families who have friends or relatives in Diyala often move in with them. 24% have chosen this option. However, homes are often already crowded and this puts added strain on the host family. 7% of total IDPs report pressure to leave from their relatives, which is about 33% of those who are living with host families.

10% of IDPs in Diyala live in public buildings. These public buildings, often unoccupied or abandoned, frequently lack services such as electricity, running water, sanitation facilities, and proper insulation. In addition, the buildings can be reclaimed by the government or private entities, rendering the IDPs homeless once again.

2% live in a collective towns or settlements. These settlements are marked by provisional housing set up by IDPs or occasionally by the government. They also frequently lack water, sanitation facilities, waste disposal, and electrical services.

It has been reported that some displaced families are moving into homes of Iraqis who have fled from Baqubah. This will have legal implications if these families refuse to leave.

Two families reported that they face a court-ordered eviction, 30 families face pressure to leave their premises from militants, and 23 families face “other threats”.

Property Issues in Place of Origin :

When IDPs flee their place of origin, they sometimes must move quickly and leave behind property such as a house, office, car, furniture or other possessions. It is then often difficult for them to protect or access this property. Sometimes the property is destroyed or illegally occupied.

85% of families do not know the status of their property or whether they are able to access it. 27% of people said their property had been destroyed. 15% reported that their property was occupied by another citizen and 3 families said it was occupied by the government. Four families said it was currently in military use.

Of those 156 individual families interviewed, 97% own a house, 13% have land for agriculture, 3% own an apartment or room in a building, and 35% have a shop or small business. (This question was not present in the Group Rapid Assessment Template, and many other IDPs most likely have property in their place of origin.)

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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Some of the IDPs were able to take some items with them when they fled their homes. Not as many IDPs took assets with them as in other governorates, although more left with cars. Following are the percentages of families who brought the listed items with them when they fled their place of origin:

Tools: 52% Food: 45% Winter clothing: 44% Car/transportation: 42% Livestock: 12%

Livestock, tools, and transportation can assist with integration into the place of displacement, especially in terms of facilitating income generation.

Vulnerabilities :

Almost 10% of the Diyala IDP population assessed experienced vulnerabilities, such as illness, pregnancy, or advanced age. IDPs must often leave behind many of their possessions, their source of income, and their social safety net, putting them in a more vulnerable situation. In addition, a lack of food or water has a greater impact on the already vulnerable, such as a pregnant woman or an elderly person. Mental disabilities can be exacerbated by an unfamiliar environment experienced in displacement. Illnesses are also worsened by displacement, and stress due to violence and displacement exacerbates all of these conditions.

Out of almost 20,500 IDP individuals, 328 women (2%) are female heads-of-households, 1,123 individuals (6%) are considered elderly, 320 women (2%) are pregnant, 30 families (less than 1%) reported a member with a mental disability, 13 individuals have serious illnesses, and 114 families (less than 1%) report “other vulnerabilities”.

These vulnerable populations should be targeted first when providing humanitarian assistance.

Women and Children:

Displacement, violence, and a lack of access to services can be especially hard on women and children. Women and children in both the IDP and host communities in Diyala suffer from the same vulnerabilities.

As the violence continues in Iraq, more and more women are losing husbands and sons and become the only breadwinners and decision makers in the family. Women heads-of-households, of which there are 328 reported in the newly-displaced population in Diyala, do not have as many income-generating options, and conservative traditions among some families prevent the freedom of movement or access to services their male counterparts enjoy. Insurgents have closed hairstyling shops, a popular form of employment for women. Many women who formerly worked cleaning homes or assisting families can no longer find work, as families who employ these women have fled Diyala.

It was reported in Baqubah and certain areas in Al-Muqdadiya district that insurgents are also issuing orders that women must be covered and cannot use mobile phones in public.

Women who require special health care, such as the 320 pregnant IDP women mentioned above, cannot always access it in displacement. In fact, it is reported that more and more women are delivering babies at home instead of in a hospital, and more deaths during childbirth are being reported by hospitals due to a lack of proper delivery care in homes. In addition, hospitals are reporting an increase in requests for abortions, supposedly due to socio-economic pressure and an inability to financially support another family member.

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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Children are probably the most adversely affected in displacement and instability, as their education is disrupted, lack of family income sometimes forces them to work, and witnessing violence causes psychological issues that are not addressed.

Information coming from Diyala reflects a grim situation for children in this governorate. It is reported that some children in Diyala between the ages of 10 to 14 have joined the local insurgents, either for money or for revenge for incidents against family members. Many schools have closed in areas such as Baqubah, and children from poor families have been found begging and collecting trash for lack of any other income-generation possibilities.

Eleven cases of rape against children (especially boys) were reported to the monitors. Women and girls do not venture out frequently due to fear of abductions and rape. There are also reports of increase of drug use among children who have lost parents. In addition, children in Diyala are noted as being malnourished due to a lack of PDS food rations (both receiving rations and rations with missing items, especially protein-based items) or lack of funds to buy adequate food.

Clearly the situation in Diyala is especially adverse for women and children in both the IDP and host community populations, and only continues to deteriorate.

Education:

Due to the high level of children being displaced with their families, before the beginning of the school year, the Ministry of Education issued a requirement that schools accept these children. However, displaced children are not always warmly welcomed at schools that are already overcrowded and do not have enough materials, desks, and chairs to support the new pupils. Some families also cannot afford the clothing and school materials required.

Many schools and universities in Diyala have temporarily closed due to violence, except in Khanaqin, which is more stable.

Food :

Food was the third priority need identified by IDPs in Diyala (shelter was listed first and employment second). Accessing the Public Distribution System (PDS), upon which many IDPs rely on to supplement their daily food intake, is hampered because documents must be transferred or renewed, and PDS rations are not always available.

IDPs in Diyala have better access to PDS rations than in surrounding governorates. Only 5% of those interviewed report no access, 75% sometimes receive PDS rations, and 20% receive them always. However, 85% also reported that their last PDS distribution was incomplete and items were missing.

For those IDPs who have no access to PDS rations or have not received them lately, 61% blame it on food transportation routes being insecure, and 58% blame it on lack of transportation. Instability and poor infrastructure prevent access. Only a few families blamed it on a delay in transferring their PDS registration card to a new location or a lack of documentation.

If IDPs receive food assistance from other sources, the impact of a lack of access to the PDS food rations is not as great. However, in Diyala, fewer IDPs have received food assistance than IDPs in other governorates. Over 60% have not received any food assistance. Humanitarian organizations provided food assistance to 34% of the IDPs interviewed, and 8% received it from religions charities. These entities provided dried, fresh and intermediate food. No IDPs reported receiving food from national or regional authorities.

See Conclusion section below for recommendations for food assistance to IDPs in Diyala.

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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Water/Sanitation :

IDPs did not report any major problems with accessing clean water. Only 25 families (less than 1%) report that they do not have regular access to water. The remaining access it though various sources: municipal underground pipes (93%); water tanks or trucks (65%); rivers, streams, or lakes (41%); public wells (15%); or open or broken pipes (1%). The majority of IDPs can access these sources within 500 meters of where they are located, although 218 families (6%) must travel over 500 meters.

Less than 1% of families (24 families) do not have access to toilets.

Fuel and Electricity :

Despite intermittent electricity and the need for generators throughout Iraq, only 6% of IDPs interviewed do not have access to electricity. 64% can access it 1 to 3 hours per day, and 30% can access it four or more hours a day.

Diyala’s recently-displaced IDPs do not fare nearly as well with fuel. 62% report no access to fuel due to its unavailability or high cost. For those 39% who can access it, 35% can obtain propane, 16% can purchase benzene, and 2% have access to diesel, but less than 1% has access to kerosene, which is most widely used for cooking and heating, especially in winter months. Kerosene fuel and heater distributions for these 60% of IDPs would be especially beneficial during winter.

Some recently-displaced IDPs were reported as being arrested for selling kerosene illegally, the only form of income generation they could find.

Health Care :

Increased instability and violence is taking a toll on the health sector, possibly more than any other sector in Iraq. In addition to health facilities occasionally suffering collateral damage during military operations or armed conflict, many doctors and other health professionals have fled the country due to threats to their lives, no longer can travel to work, or have found work in other professions. Medical equipment and medications are also dwindling. Fewer Iraqis are able to obtain the health care they once could.

A quarter of the IDP population interviewed reported that there are no health care services in their area of displacement or if they are available, they cannot access them. 24% blame inaccessibility on financial constraints. 3% report that facilities are too distant. No one reported lack of female staff or refusal of service as reasons for not being able to get adequate health care services. In addition, 52% report that they do not have access to most of the medications they need.

Fewer IDPs have been visited by a health care worker in the last 45 days (from the interview) than in other governorates. 83% of IDPs report not being visited by a health care worker, and those 17% who have been visited were only provided with vaccinations. No one received medical examinations or medication, although a few families did receive health education. 87 families (3%) have a member who has suffered from infectious diseases or epidemics in the last 45 days.

In addition, a higher number of IDPs in Diyala have not been involved in a vaccination campaign compared to other governorates. 70% of families have received no vaccinations, 6% received them 4 to 6 months ago (from the date of interview), 15% received them 1 to 3 months ago, and 9% received them last month.

Health care providers in Diyala should consider vaccination campaigns as a priority in Diyala to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

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Documentation :

Lack of proper documentation is going to prevent the registration of IDPs in their new location to obtain services and assistance, will inhibit the transfer of the PDS ration card, and will create problems with movement and proving identity.

Almost all IDPs interviewed in Diyala have nationality certificates and identification cards. 67% of families hold marriage documents, but only 16% have birth certificates, and 6% have death certificates. A large percentage, 53%, hold Iraqi passports.

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE RECEIVED

Despite difficulty accessing IDPs due to security constraints, 76% of IDPs report receiving some sort of humanitarian assistance since they were displaced. The majority received food, as mentioned above, and 57% received non-food items (such as mattresses, hygiene projects, plastic sheeting, buckets, etc.), 2% received health assistance, and 2% report “other assistance”.

The host community was cited as providing the most amount of assistance. 44% of IDPs received assistance from the host community, which is higher than in most governorates. 38% received assistance from the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, 38% from relatives, 14% from MoDM, 9% from religions groups, and 1% from NGOs. A few families received assistance from other Iraqi government bodies, and 5% received it from “other sources”. However, their assistance was usually one-time, and lack of resources prevents humanitarian entities from meeting even a fraction of vulnerable IDPs’ needs.

Militant groups are cited as providing increasing assistance to IDPs who come to their communities, especially in Sunni Muslim communities.

AREAS IN NEED OF SPECIAL ASSISTANCE

Monitors identified 50 Kurdish families displaced from Khanaqin to Nafut Khanah sub-district. They reside in a public building without services. Several families rely entirely on the pension of an elderly member for income. Many of these families have not received any form of humanitarian assistance and report their priority needs as food, hygiene items, baby items, and other non-food items such as blankets, mattresses and kerosene heaters.

Twenty newly-displaced families were found living in public building in Baladrooz. There is no sewer or water system and they rely on water from a nearby river for drinking, cooking and domestic use, which has lead to intestinal diseases. These IDPs also do hot have access to the PDS rations. They requested assistance fixing the windows in the building, plastic sheeting to put over windows for cold weather, and infant milk.

Monitors assessed 37 Arab Shia families displaced from Kifri who are also living in a public building in the former military camp in Baqubah. Many have skin diseases due to unclean water. They require food, water, and health assistance.

About 120 families have arrived to Kharnabat village, most of them displaced from Baqubah, Khalis and Baladrooz in Diyala and from Baghdad. These IDPs brought little with them and are in need of non-food items, infant milk and diapers.

Monitors identified 40 families displaced to Sarajuk village from Baqubah who had to quickly flee their home due to direct threats to their lives. They are in need of non-food items (specifically

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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION blankets, kerosene heaters, fuel, lanterns and kitchen sets), infant milk and food. They also requested legal help with property that has been occupied.

CONCLUSION

Information gathered from the emergency monitoring and needs assessments can provide an excellent base on which to develop assistance responses, establish locations of intervention, identify the most vulnerable populations, and provide responses that meet the IDPs’ identified needs.

IDPs in Diyala were very clear on their priority needs. They overwhelmingly listed the following as their top three priorities: 1) shelter, 2) access to work, 3) food. These three priorities are common for recently-displaced IDPs throughout Iraq.

Shelter : As mentioned above, the majority of IDPs in Diyala (62%) rent shelter. Those who can afford it when they arrive find a space to rent, but several factors make this unsustainable. Many IDPs did not think they would be displaced for long and do not have the savings to continue to afford rent. IDPs left behind employment and income-generation activities, and they are finding it difficult to find another job in their place of displacement. Without income, covering rental costs is difficult. Finally, rental costs are increasing with the demand, also making renting impossible for some families.

A couple of options could help alleviate the housing problems for IDPs. Building simple, affordable houses to rent would have to be coordinated closely with the local authorities and Iraqi Ministries and should target only those families who plan on staying long-term. Local authorities could cap the inflation of rent prices, which would allow more families to continue to rent.

24% of IDPs live with a host family or relative, and these host families often suffer from the same lack of basic services or income as the IDPs. If the IDPs plan to share the house for the long- term, expanding their hosts’ homes could be beneficial and less costly than new housing.

For the 12% of IDPs who live in public buildings, on unused land or in collective towns or settlements that lack facilities, improved sanitation and cooking facilities, insulation, and reconstruction of their shelter could be undertaken. However, this can only be done if these locations will not be reclaimed and the IDPs will be living there permanently.

If IDPs have access to land, providing grants or interest-free loans would allow them to build inexpensive housing on their property.

If property owners of the aforementioned buildings or land decide to evict the IDPs, which is a growing a possibility as more IDPs move into these areas, a short-term solution can be the provision of tents. The setting up of an IDP camp should be avoided. Permanent or semi- permanent camps could create a pull factor and can be costly to maintain, put the IDPs’ security at risk, and create dependency once services are established.

Employment : IDPs must often leave behind employment and income-generating activities when they are displaced, and access to work was ranked second among IDPs' top priorities in Diyala.

IDPs provided numerous suggestions for employment opportunities. Many suggestions focused on construction projects that would improve water and sanitation infrastructure, build homes, or other construction projects that would employ IDPs while providing much-needed services. Some IDPs suggested a partial rehabilitation on an unused primary school located nearby their location so that it could be used for classes. IDPs also suggested water purification units and water pipe extensions for accessible, clean drinking water.

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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Another suggestion was allocating portions of public land where the IDPs are currently living to be used for farming, especially for those IDPs who have experience in agriculture. This would have to be closely coordinated with local authorities. Another recommendation was establishing chicken farms for those who have experience in raising poultry and livestock. IDPs also suggested providing them with micro-loans so that they could begin their own small business.

Finally, agencies could create vocational training programs in areas such as carpentry, masonry, metalwork, tailoring and the auto mechanic trade, or on-the-job training, where employees are paid to train the IDP for a certain amount of time and then agree to hire him or her after the training is complete. These trainings should target IDPs with little work or skills experience.

Food : Food distributions to the most vulnerable can help alleviate their food deprivation. Food should target the IDPs’ needs, especially the nutritional needs of children and women, and should compliment and not duplicate what has been provided by other entities.

If families hosting IDPs have access to arable land, providing agriculture materials (food, tools and equipment) can increase the food production for both the IDPs and host families.

For those IDPs who cannot access PDS rations due to security and inability to transport food, the best method for food access is obviously the stabilization of the security situation, a complicated challenge in Iraq. For those IDPs who are having trouble transferring their PDS ration cards, MoDM and the Ministry of Trade will need to help facilitate this process. All Iraqis must renew their PDS cards for 2007, which could be further complicated due to displacement.

Intentions : Assistance should be based on the IDPs’ intentions as well as needs. As mentioned, 74% reported that they planned to return to their place of origin, 11% said they would locally integrate, and 15% intend to resettle in a third location. Long-term interventions, such as building shelter or providing long-term training, should tackle those IDPs who plan to stay in their current location, while more immediate assistance should focus on all IDPs, especially the most vulnerable.

Further Analysis : This report is by no means conclusive, and a more in-depth analysis can be undertaken by obtaining a deeper understanding of what IDPs know, do and think, using tools such as matrix ranking, seasonal calendars and gender analysis.

This assessment tool has been developed to aid programming and to undertake integrated measures that aim to reduce the time between assessments and response to emergencies. It should however be noted overall that some aspects of the above assessments still require more technical descriptions at a higher level, and it is hoped that the agencies that will need such further technical information will be able to take this up at their own convenience. In addition, SPHERE minimum standards in disaster response should always be incorporated whenever providing humanitarian assistance.

For Updates on IOM’s humanitarian assistance response to recent displacement, please see the IOM Recent Displacement and Assessments updates. In addition, these governorate reports can be accessed at http://www.iom-iraq.net/idp.html .

As the situation unfolds, the characteristics and dynamics of the displacement will change. With collaboration and quick responses, the negative impact of displacement can be minimized with hope for a brighter future for the displaced.

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, IDP Monitoring and Reintegration Officer, at [email protected] (+962 79 611 1759).

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