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Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) of Recently-Displaced Persons in the Kurdistan Region

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Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) of Recently-Displaced Persons in the Kurdistan Region Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) of Recently-Displaced Persons in the Kurdistan Region DAHUK GOVERNORATE November 2007 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................. 3 2. SUMMARY OF GOVERNORATE................................................................. 3 3. IDP MONITORING .......................................................................................... 4 3.1. METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................................4 3.2. MONITORING SUMMARY ..................................................................................................5 4. IDP PROFILE.................................................................................................... 6 4.1. IDP FLOW.....................................................................................................................6 4.2. MOVEMENT PROFILE.......................................................................................................6 4.3. DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE ..................................................................................................8 5. IDP PROTECTION......................................................................................... 10 5.1. ACCESS TO GOVERNORATE............................................................................................. 10 5.3. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND SECURITY........................................................................... 11 5.4. DOCUMENTATION ........................................................................................................ 11 6. IDP LIVING CONDITIONS AND ACCESS TO SERVICES.................... 11 6.1. HOUSING.................................................................................................................... 11 6.2. EMPLOYMENT ............................................................................................................. 13 6.3. BASIC SERVICES........................................................................................................... 13 6.4. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE ......................................................................................... 16 7. PRIORITY NEEDS AND SUGGESTED INTERVENTIONS ................... 16 ANNEX I: CASE STUDIES ................................................................................... 18 ANNEX II: HOUSEHOLD SURVEY SUMMARY............................................. 21 2 1. Introduction1 The purpose of this report is to reflect the situation of the newly displaced in the Governorate of Dahuk, in particular, the movement and demographic profile of IDPs, their access to shelter, employment and basic services (including food, education, healthcare and water), as well as their future intentions. It is estimated that over 2.4 million people remain displaced within Iraq as of September 2007, some 1.2 million of whom were displaced following the Samarra bombings in February 2006.2 These attacks resulted in the escalation of sectarian violence with large-scale revenge killings on both sides, alongside anti-state insurgency, counter-insurgency and crime. Overall, this led to widespread violence, killings and insecurity throughout Iraq. Mixed communities, particularly in Baghdad, have borne the brunt of the conflict between members of Iraq’s principal religious groups, Shi’a and Sunni Muslims. Minority groups in southern and central Iraq, including Christians and Kurds, are without strong protection networks and are particularly vulnerable to violence and intimidation. A significant minority of IDPs displaced since February 2006, have sought refuge in the KRG administered areas of Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah which in comparison to other regions of Iraq, remain relatively secure. According to official KRG sources, 28,886 (September 2007) IDP families have been displaced from the south and centre to the Kurdish area since 2003, the majority of whom were displaced after February 2006. The influx of new IDPs has had a significant impact on the host community: increasing house prices, increasing rent prices, additional pressure on already strained public services and by creating concerns about security and demographic shifts. At the same time, however, the Kurdish area has also benefited from the migration of professionals, bringing with them skills and disposable incomes that boost the local economy. While there have been IDP returns to Baghdad, no significant return movements have taken place from this area. 2. Summary of Governorate3 Size 6,553 km2 Administrative Dahuk City Capital Districts Dahuk, Amedi, Sumel and Administration Qadha (dstrict) and Nahiya (sub- Zakho(de facto Akre and part of district) Councils, Governorate Shekhan)4(de facto Akre and part Council of Shekhan) Internal Erbil, Ninewa Checkpoints Rizgari sub-district checkpoint, Boundaries Dahuk City checkpoint Population 472,238 (ILCS) IDPs from Individuals: 55,151 excluding South and Families: 9,617 (September IDPS Centre (Since 2007) 2003) Dominant Sunni Muslim Dominant Kurd Religion Ethnicity 1 The report was researched and drafted with UNHCR’s partner, IRD. 2 Cluster F, Update on IDPs, 21 November 2007. 3 For further details on the Governorate of Dahuk, please consult UNHCR’s Governorate Assessment Report, September 2007, http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/iraq?page=governorate. 3 3. IDP Monitoring 3.1 Methodology UNHCR’s partner, International Relief and Development (IRD) monitors IDPs in the three Northern Governorates of Iraq through its local monitoring team who collects information from household interviews5, consultations with UNHCR field staff, the Dahuk Protection and Assistance Centres (PACs), and interviews with local community leaders. A survey plan was set up according to geographic concentrations of IDPs across the governorate as per July 2007 figures. Statistics used in this analysis are correct as of August 20076 and data is rounded off to zero decimal places. The source of figures for the number of IDP families is the Directorate of IDPs and Refugees Dahuk (DIDPRD). Figure 1: Survey sample and achievements7 Location IDP baseline Target No. of % of IDP figures % against (District) figures Jul 07 (6% of forms target Aug. 07 IDP figures Jul collected achieved figures 07) Aug. 07 Dahuk 2,115 127 127 100% 2,146 6% Zakho 1,817 109 110 101% 1,817 6% Amedi 394 24 59 246% 394 15% Akre 2,269 136 130 96% 2,269 6% Shekhan 1,459 88 88 100% 1,512 6% Sumail 1,431 86 150 174% 1,431 10% Total 9,485 570 664 116% 9,569 7% An effort was made to get a representative sample of ethnicities and monitoring officers tried to cover ethnicities according to the concentrations indicated in the DIDPRD IDP figures. Source of IDP figures: IRD collects statistics on IDPs from DIDPRD. 4 Akre and Shekhan districts belong de jure to the Governorate of Ninewa; de facto they are under the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Until 1976, the Governorate of Dahuk was part of Ninewa Governorate, which was called Mosul Province at the time. 5 IRD’s monitors use UNHCR’s IDP/Returnee Household Monitoring Form, Version C, October 2006. 6 For this calculation, the August 2007 breakdown of IDPs by district was taken since no September 2007 breakdown was available. 7 20 May to 30 September 2007 4 3.2. IDP Monitoring summary Districts surveyed Dahuk, Sumel, Amedi, Zakho, Akre and Shekhan Number of surveys 664 Percentage of IDP population surveyed 7% Districts with highest IDP concentration Akre (2,269), Dahuk (2,146), Zakho (1817), Shekhan (1,512), Sumel (1,431) Main cause of flight Post-Samara events (89%) Main governorate of origin Ninewa Main ethnicity Kurd Main Religion Muslim Priority protection needs Access to food, including issuance of temporary food ration card; access to education for Arabic- speaking IDP children Priority assistance needs Public services Received assistance 32% of surveyed IDP population Figure 2: Percentage of IDP families surveyed in Dahuk Governorate, by district.8 8 Source of map: http://www.esri.com. 5 4. IDP Profile 4.1. IDP flow The number of IDP families arriving in Dahuk Governorate has increased steadily since February 2006, with the highest increase during 2007 in the months of February and March.9 (Fig.3). Figure 3: IDP increase in Dahuk Governorate 2500 2134 2134 2133 2000 1500 1182 1000 624 Individuals 500 328 188 0 Feb-07 Mar-07 Apr-07 May-07 Jun-07 Jul-07 Aug-07 4.2. Movement profile Place of origin: The majority of IDP families surveyed are from neighbouring Ninewa (68%), but families also fled from Baghdad (30%) and the remaining 2% from other areas (Kirkuk, Salah Al- Din, Anbar, Najaf and Muthanna). Of those that fled from Ninewa, 95% came from Mosul. Of those that fled from Baghdad, 49% came from Al Rusafa and 43% from Karkh districts. Figure 4: Place of origin of IDPs in Dahuk Other* 2% Baghdad 30% Ninewa 68% *Other areas include Kirkuk, Salah Al-Din, Anbar, Najaf and Muthanna. 9 Figures based on information received from the DIDPRD. 6 Flight: Sectarian violence after 22 February 2006 was the main cause of flight for some 89% of IDP families surveyed, whilst 11% fled because of other violent events occurring since 2003. 31% of IDP families surveyed stated their family was specifically targeted. (Fig.5). Figure 5:10 (Multiple answers) Cause of flight to Dahuk Left out of fear 78% Direct threats to 31% life Generalized 21% violence Discrimination 3% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Of those families targeted, the majority were targeted
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