Summary of Key Return Updates

Bi-weekly SitRep 6: 16 – 30th October 2020

Erbil, , Salah Al-Din, Ninewa, , Anbar, Diyala, Baghdad General Updates

Camp Closures

• During October, a series of announcements were made regarding the imminent closure of camps. A number of camps have since closed. IDPs were given limited notification, with many facing challenges with clearances for movement, securing shelter post-departure and, in some cases, facing rejection from communities leading to secondary displacement. More information in subsequent sections below. • RWG, OCHA, CCCM, DTM and NPC continue to track returns, identify needs upon return and support efforts towards local integration. • Further closures are expected in phases, including by the end of November, end of December and in the first quarter of 2021. • There has been extensive engagement by senior UN leadership to engage with MOMD in seeking clarity over plans and discussing ways to ensure that returns can be voluntary, dignified and sustainable.

MoMD Updates:

• On 5th October, the MoMD minister announced the consolidation of Arbat camp into Ashti camp. A formal letter was issued by MoMD on 8th October, following the national MoMD instructions. • On 18th October 2020, the MoMD minister announced the closure of Al-Ahl IDP camp and Al-Shams informal settlement in Abo Ghareeb after the return of 172 IDP HHs (860 individuals) to their AoOs in , Qaim, , Ana and Amiriyat Al-Falluja districts in Anbar governorate. • On 21st October 2020, the MoMD minister announced the closure of Nabi Younis IDP camp in Baghdad, mentioning that the residents of the camp returned to their AoOs in , and Hamdaniyah districts in Ninewa. The announcement did not mention the exact number of returnees and simply stated that MoMD provided transportation to those IDPs in coordination with the Ministry of Transportation after obtaining all the required security approvals. On the same day, the MoMD minister announced the closure of Kerbala IDP camp after the return of all its residents (560 individuals) to their AoOs in Mosul and Tal Afar districts in Ninewa governorate. • 0n 26th October 2020, the MoMD minister announced the closure of Saad camp in Diyala after the return of all its residents to their AoOs. The announcement added that 45 HHs returned to Baquba, 29 HHs to Khanaqeen, 10 HHs to Muqdadiyah in Diyala in addition to 5 HHs to Salah al-din and one household to Ninewa. • On 26th October 2020, the MoMD announced the return of 29 IDP HHs (128 individuals) from HTC camp to their AoOs within Anbar governorate as part of the voluntary return process. The Director General of Branches Mr. Ali Jahagir confirmed that these HHs returned to Ramadi, Rutba, Heet, and Jazaerat Al-Khaldiyah. He added that the ministry will facilitate the return of more IDPs in the coming days after securing the security clearance for them from the relevant security authorities in coordination with the local government of Anbar and the Ministry of Transportation.

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Summary of Key Return Updates

• On 28th October 2020, the MoMD minister announced that both Baghdad and Kerbala governorates are free of camps. The statement was made jointly with the chair of the displaced and labor parliamentary committee Mr. Ra’ad Al-Dahlaki during the announcement of MoMD’s plan to facilitate the return of IDPs to their AoOs. The minister also mentioned that more camps will be closed soon in Anbar and Salah al-din, adding that returnees from these camps will be provided with in-kind assistance for the first year from the date of their arrival to AoOs and will also be prioritized for receiving the return grant. She called on the authorities in the Kurdistan region to facilitate the return of IDPs in Hasan Sham and Al-Khazir camps to their AoOs. • On 28th October 2020, the MoMD minister announced the return of 393 IDPs (89 HHs) from Al- Khazir to their AoOs in Ninewa governorate as part of the voluntary return process that MoMD is facilitating in . She added that a new group of 393 IDPs have returned to their AoOs in Al-Intisar, Rayhaniyah, Nahrawan, Jadaa, Ba’aj, Rajim Al-Hadeed, Sumar, Rabea, Guer, Muhalabiyah and Tal Afar in Ninewa governorate. The announcement mentioned that more batches of voluntary returns will be facilitated in the coming few days after completing the security clearance for IDPs with intention to return with the relevant security authorities.

National Plan

• As mentioned in the previous bi-weekly sitrep, on 6th October, the Minister of Migration and Displacement (MOMD) welcomed the minister of Planning (MOP) at the MoMD HQ to discuss the initial draft of a national plan for solving protracted displacement. The discussion highlighted the main obstacles to return, the required allocations to address these obstacles as well as the roles and responsibilities of different governmental entities in this regard. In addition, the meeting discussed the potential and required coordination with different security entities as well as the international community to implement the plan. The plan itself is designed to address five different issues identified as the main obstacles to return during the recent intention survey carried out by MoMD, which are: o Security and Political o Reconciliation and Social Peace o Infrastructure and public services o Supporting the economy and creation of job opportunities o Shelter rehabilitation and housing support • On 28th October 2020, DSTF representatives met with Director Generals from the Ministry of Planning to seek clarification on the progress of drafting the national plan. The initial outputs of the meeting confirmed that the plan is still under drafting and would be shared for inputs.MOP is leading the drafting of the plan which will have a component relating to camp closures while also more broadly focusing on wider conditions in areas of origin.

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Summary of Key Return Updates

Anbar – Baghdad Returns

• On 14th October, 105 HHs in Al-Shams informal settlement and 67 HHs in Al-Ahl IDP camp were given two days-notice to depart. All households have now left the camp for their areas of origin in Al- Qaim, Al-Rummanah, Ramadi, Garma and Falluja, with 44 HHs remaining in the vicinity. The camp is now vacant and both sites were handed over to local authorities of Abo Ghareeb by CCCM actors. • Baghdad-Anbar PWG reported that on the evening of 18 October, at least 8 buses with IDPs from Al-Ahl camp and Al-Shams informal settlement crossed the Al Soqour checkpoint at the border of and district, Anbar, with the majority of families headed to Ramadi, Fallujah, Al Garmah and Al-Qaim districts. At the checkpoint, Anbar Operations Command (AOC) confiscated the national ID of every head of household. Families were informed that they would receive their IDs in their areas of origin and/or at Al- Military Base near Ramadi. Lack of IDs created multiple challenges for convoys when proceeding to subsequent checkpoints across the governorate. • Families traveling to Al Qaim district spent the evening at the Kilo 35 settlement and another night in Al-Obaidi before reaching their final destinations in Al-Qaim and Rummanah. Eventually, partners reported the return of 34 HHs to their AoOs within the districts. The returnee families reported access to food, cash and protection as their top urgent needs whereas access to adequate shelter and livelihood opportunities were the short-term needs reported by the same families to RWG field staff. • As of 22 October, at least 37 families entered Al Garmah district through the main checkpoint. Partners reported that five families were denied entry into the district and remained at the checkpoint. Security actors informed these families that their homes fall under the Baghdad Operations Command’s area of responsibility, and thus families require an official permission to enter despite possessing a letter from MoMD that they were returning due to camp closure in Baghdad • IDPs noted immense frustration with the sudden development. Some HHs reported that they consider the returns forced because they were not provided enough notice and that they do not have sufficient shelter in their area of origin and/or face tribal/social issues, in addition to lacking access to basic services and/or livelihoods opportunities. • A lack of coordination among MoMD, Baghdad Operations Command, Anbar Operations Command and Al-Jazeera Operations Command resulted in significant delays, additional security screenings and hardship for IDPs, who often had no access to food, water and sanitation facilities during long waiting periods at checkpoints. • No COVID-19 mitigation measures were witnessed during movements. However, RWG consulted with local administrative units in the AoOs to push them into applying the required measures upon arrival of IDPs, but no measures were applied as the convoy arrived after midnight. • It was reported that almost 29 HHs and 10 HHs from Al-Shams informal settlement and Al-Ahl IDP camp have settled in the vicinity of both settlements. A meeting on 4th October between the Mayor of Abu Ghraib and humanitarian partners indicated that local authorities agreed that some families from Al Shams camp engaged in livelihoods opportunities could remain in the Abu Ghraib area. At the 13 October Baghdad GRC meeting, a representative of Baghdad Operations Command reported

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Summary of Key Return Updates

temporary housing cards would be issued for IDPs who choose to remain in Abu Ghraib as a temporary solution. • On 24th October 2020, Anbar GRC Chair (Mazin Al-Dulaimi) informed OCHA that 32 IDP HHs will depart the HTC camp in Anbar to their AoOs during the next three days. The HHs’ AoOs are located within the Anbar Operations Command`s (AOC) areas of responsibility, and none of those families are from Western Anbar. The GRC Chair stated that this was agreed on during the last Anbar GRC meeting on 17th September in Ramadi, while AOC provided security clearance for these families to return. • A convoy left HTC central camp on 26th October with 34 HHs (10 HHs to Jazerat Al-Khaldiya, 6 HHs to Garma, 6 HHs to Rutba, 9 HHs to Ramadi and 3 HHs to Fallujah). The entire return movement was facilitated by MoMD and the local government of Anbar who provided rented buses and trucks to transport the IDPs and their belongings. The GRC Chair (the Governor Advisor) and a Colonel from AOC visited the camp to oversee the return process. Exit surveys were conducted for all the families who left the camp. • Five families returned to the camp after being denied access at the checkpoints. Three HHs from Al- Khalidya returned to the camp after one of their members was arrested at the checkpoint after being accused of ISIL affiliation. The other two HHs from Garma returned to the camp as one of the heads did not undergo the Tabria (denunciation) process - the two HHs were sharing the same truck and had to return as it was not possible to separate the two families’ belongings at the checkpoint.

Diyala

Update on Saad Camp Closure

• On 19th October 2020, the deputy Governor and JCMC representative stated that there is a plan for imminent closure of Saad camp according to the instructions and plan of the Prime Minister and MoMD. Five days later, on 24th October, the Diyala governor, accompanied by the head of MoMD branch in Diyala and delegates from Diyala Operations Command (DOC), visited the camp and informed the families that they have almost a week (until Thursday 29th October 2020) to leave the camp. The head of MoMD branch in Diyala offered the residents of the camps two options aside from return: a) to consolidate with Al-Wand camps or b) to integrate locally. • On 26th October 2020, MoMD in cooperation with the local authorities in Diyala and Diyala Operations Command (DOC) began the closure of the camp by sending the families to their AoOs (which are mainly in Jalawlaa, Saadiyah, Muqdadiyah, Udhaim sub-districts in Diyala as well as Ninewa and Salah al-din) or to Al-Wand 1 IDP camp. Several families managed to find accommodation with relatives and friends in Baquba as the notification period was not sufficient to search for accommodation for rent. • According to authorities, caravans used for shelter in the camp were agreed to be provided to IDPs following the completion of administrative procedures and will be transported to the IDPs’ areas of origin and/or to Baquba following the end of procedures. However, protection partners reported that caravans have been taken by DOC, with families reportedly requested to sign a declaration approving

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Summary of Key Return Updates

the handover. Many families refused to sign. At least three families received approval as of 26 October to relocate their caravans outside the camp. • By 27th October 2020, the camp was officially closed. The process lasted three days, starting on 25th and completed by 27th October. All 99 IDP families who were residing at the camp left. Around 32 HHs returned to Jalawlaa, while remaining households, in small numbers ranging from one to 11 households, moved to the neighborhoods of Katun Al-Razi, Katun Al-Rahma, Al-Mo’alemin, Kan’an, Al- Tahrir, Al-Sewamra, Al-Mafraq and Al-Katun and the villages of Bab Al-Darab and Al-Sada. • The situation remains fluid, and for the most up to date information, please contact the CCCM cluster.

Ninewa

Returns from Al Hol

• On 10th October, nine female headed households returned from Al Hol to Ninewa. • Returnees entered the country through Rabea sub district, where they were initially detained before being released. • Specialized actors are liaising with the relevant authorities to respond to the needs of these households, who are comprised of women and children only. • Returns from Al Hol camp have been ongoing, with a small number of households returning to Iraq each month.

Returns to and Ba’aj

• Between 8 June and 25 October 2020, IOM-DTM have tracked the return of 32,530 individuals to Sinjar and Ba’aj. Returns took place mainly to various locations in Sinjar, except for 2,818 individuals who returned to Ba’aj, mainly Qahtaniya sub-district. remains the most common location from which IDPs are departing; yet increased returns from Ninewa, and Suly were noted in the last two months, with 5,834 individuals returning from Ninewa, 203 from Erbil and 182 from Suly. • Return figures in Sinjar and Qahtaniya reduced slightly at the beginning of October due to security issues. However, after the announcement of the GoI-KRI agreement of Sinjar on 9th October 2020, return numbers increased again to reach an average of 35-45 households a day. Positive and negative reactions to the agreement were reported as some people considered it to be the right step, while others demonstrated against it claiming that it does not serve Sinjar. • MoMD stated that as of 27 October, a total of 582 households are still displaced in Jabal Sinjar. A slight increase is noted in comparison to the previously shared number (500 households). This is after the large-scale return movements of IDPs were seen since June 2020, where over 1,000 households returned over the course of four months. • Sinjar municipality has been conducting campaigns of debris and garbage removal in Markaz Sinjar to improve living conditions and encourage more returns. Rozhalat and Al Shuhadaa neighborhoods were targeted in the last two weeks, as similar campaigns are expected in other neighborhood in the future. The municipality paved the street of the major entrance of Markaz Sinjar. Qayrawan municipality also

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Summary of Key Return Updates

conducts occasional clearing campaigns in Qayrawan town, as well as water trucking to several villages that do not have access to drinkable water. • The situation of HLP issues and occupation of houses remain the same, with no clear solutions so far. According to DTM, around 25% of IDPs were secondarily displaced upon arriving, mainly due to house destruction, insecurity and lack of basic services. This percentage fluctuates slightly every month depending on the exact number of arrivals as IDPs in secondary displacement, rather than returnees. In October, the Ninewa Governor stated that the destruction percentage in Sinjar is 60% - 80%, which is the main reason behind housing occupation. Lack of basic services and insecurity, specifically in Qahtaniya and the outskirts of Sinjar, are also primary reasons for secondary displacement, resulting in many households returning to Markaz Sinjar as IDPs. The HLP Sub Cluster is attempting to conduct a rapid assessment to categorize the secondary occupants and gain a better understanding of the issue.

Returns from Baghdad and Kerbala

• On 18 October 2020, 25 households returned from Al Kawther camp, Kerbala, to Ninewa. An additional 10 households have reportedly returned to Ninewa prior to 18 October. In addition to returnees from Al Kawther, an estimated 48 households returned to Ninewa, coming from Al Nabi Younis camp, Al Nahrawan-Baghdad. • Around 45 IDP households who were in Al Kawther camp, Kerbala, have reportedly locally integrated there, renting households in several locations in Kerbala, where they have the support of relatives. 12 households who were at Nabi Younis camp are thought to be remaining in Baghdad, renting houses in Al Nahrawan area. • The majority of returnees from Ninewa returned to Tel Afar from camps in Baghdad and Kerbala. Other districts that received returnees are Mosul, Hamdaniya and Tel Keif, in addition to Bartella and Bashiqa sub districts. Reportedly, most of the returnees headed to their exact locations of origin, yet not all of them managed to return to their original houses due to destruction, leading to some households living with relatives. • MoMD facilitated transportation to returnees travelling from Baghdad and Kerbala camps to Ninewa, providing buses for individuals and trucks for belongings. Nevertheless, returnees reported a lack of coordination among ISF across the concerned governorates, resulting in delays at checkpoints due to the checking of returnees’ details and personal IDs. Sulaymaniyah

Camp consolidation and closure:

On 5th October, the MoMD minister announced the consolidation of Arbat camp (302 HHs) into Ashti camp (1,840 HHs). The majority of both camps’ residents are from Salah al-Din and are mainly from the same tribes. Furthermore, Qoratu camp (137 HHs) was consolidated into Tazade camp (230 HHs), with the majority of both camps’ residents from Diyala. A formal letter on the closure was issued by MoMD on 8th October, following the national MoMD instructions. On 8th October MoMD sent a formal letter to the Sulaymaniyah

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Summary of Key Return Updates

governor requiring their approvals for both camp consolidation and camp closures. On 22 October, the camp closure has been approved by the Sulaymaniyah Governor.

Qoratu camp closure

• On 25 October, MoMD Sulaymaniyah, JCCC, Garmian administration and Qoratu camp management informed camp residents of the intention to close the camp. • They requested families to provide feedback by 30 October on their initial preference of moving to Tazade camp, return to AoO or integrating outside the camp. • By 1st November, the camp management received feedback from camp residents about their intentions. Of 137 families, only 11 families preferred moving to Tazade camp, two families preferred to move to Ashti camp, 28 families wish to move to Al-Wand camps, and one family preferred to return to the AoO. The majority preferred to stay in the camp at least until the end of the winter, after which they stated they would either return to the AoO or move to Al-Wand camps in Diyala. • The main reasons why IDPs do not want to have a consolidated camp with Tazade are: o Tazade is geographically further from their areas of origin in Diyala as it lies in , whereas Qorato is in Diyala, hence their preference of Al-wand camps which also fall under . o Many of them work in Diyala, which is considered too far from Tazade camp. o They have family ties in the current camp Qoratu, which is closer to their AoO. • MoMD Sulaymaniyah has reached out to MoMD Diyala to discuss the possibility of moving families to Al-Wand camps. However, there are concerns about the recent MoMD plans for camp closures, including potential closure of Al-wand camps. • The suggested dates for the transfer of families who wished to move to Tazade camp are 8-11 November. No final date for actual camp closure has been confirmed with the authorities, but some flexibility is expected on the final date.

Arbat camp closure

• On 27 October, MoMD Sulaymaniyah and JCCC met with the Arbat camp residents to explain the national plan for camp closures, and to notify families of the intention of MoMD to consolidate Arbat camp and merge with Ashti camp. • Families have until the 5th November to decide whether to move to Ashti, return to their AoO, or move to out of camp locations. • Generally, there was acceptance by the camp residents to be consolidated with Ashti camp. According to an informal discussion with the camp residents, 95% of them wish to be moved to Ashti camp, mainly due to the proximity of the camps to each other and the fact that most of the IDPs are from the same AoO and same tribes – thus this will be closer to friends and relativs. Some families believe that the humanitarian assistance and services are better in Ashti camp compared to Arbat camp. Furthermore, both camps residents were initially living together in Arbat camp before Ashti camp was built, but due to overload, Ashti camp was established and many families were moved. • The timeline for closure has not been communicated with the families, due to uncertainty of shelter availability in Ashti camp.

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Summary of Key Return Updates

• Discussions are under way with CCCM partners to guide consolidation, with an expected deadline of the end of November. Erbil

Khazer camps closure

• On 18 October, the head of MoMD’s KRI branch Ms. Alia Al-Bazaz convened a kick-off meeting in Khazer camp to announce a plan for Khazer camp closure by the end of December. A second meeting is expected to take place next week. • MoMD have asked partners to share their feedback on potential support by the end of October, particularly for families who cannot return, as well as suggestions for the camp closure and consolidation with Hasansham camps. • The residents of Khazer camp are originally from blocked villages in Hamdaniya, Mosul city and western Ninewa (Ba'aj, Sinjar and Qayrawan). • During the kick-off meeting, partners raised concerns for families who cannot return due to tribal tensions, perceived affiliation with ISIL, missing documentation and being from the disputed areas. • MoMD requested the partners to list the sensitive cases. Accordingly, MoMD will conduct another meeting in early November to find solutions for IDPs that cannot return. • MoMD made their position clear that the IDPs should not be forced to return. MoMD added that there are high level political discussions between federal Iraqi and Kurdish leaders about plans for those who cannot or do not wish to return. • Generally, camp closure by the end of the year is perceived to be ambitious given many obstacles to return as well as consolidation – due to a lack of space in Hasansham U2 and U3 camps to host IDPs. Furthermore, missing documentation is one of the biggest challenges for a large proportion of the camp residents. • Following news of potential camp closure, 89 households (393 individuals) returned from Khazer camp to Ninewa on 28th October. Most of the households returned to Mosul, while others returned to Tal Afar, Rabea, Gwer, Jed’ah and Muhalabiya. This is the second reported return movement from Khazer and Hasan Sham camps this month. • On 10 October, MoMD stated that 80 households (281 individuals) returned to their areas of origin in Mosul, Ba’aj, HAA, Tel Afar and Tel Keif. Following the returns of 28 October, MoMD mentioned that another return movement will be facilitated in the upcoming days, as part of the voluntary return initiative that MoMD supports country wide. Notably, MoMD will facilitate the security clearance procedures and coordination with ISF for IDPs willing to return to ensure they easily pass checkpoints en route to their locations of return. • JCC stated that no formal letter or instructions were received thus far. Despite the fact that the closure of Khazer camp has not been confirmed yet, more returns to Ninewa (especially Mosul and west Ninewa) may be reported in the next two months.

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Summary of Key Return Updates

Dahuk

Secondary displacement in Dahuk camps

• According to Sharia camp management, since the return of Yazidis began in March 2020, 180 families returned from Sharia camp to their AoOs. However, within two weeks of their return, 80 of those households displaced to Dahuk again and asked camp management to return to the camp. • The main reasons for secondary displacement were lack of public services, lack of job opportunities and a rumor in Sinjar that there a conflict may occur between the armed groups. • The camp management mentioned that many IDPs in the camp are staying between both the area of displacement (camps) and AoO to keep their entitlements in the camps as well as making sure they can settle in the AoO to avoid secondary displacement. Normally, the men in the households would reportedly move to the AoO while women stay behind in the area of displacement.

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