Information on displacement caused by recent events in Ramadi and Fallujah, Anbar Governorate, Iraq
UNHCR Baghdad, 5 February 2014
Security situation in Anbar
PM Nouri Al-Malik stated that the military operation in Fallujah is coming close to the end. In his weekly speech on 5 February, Maliki said "We do not want to harm the civilians and wish them to come back home where the battle with terrorism will end soon." However, local sources indicate that the shelling is indiscriminate and continue causing significant civilian casualties.
UNHCR staff on the ground report that clashes between the ISF and various armed groups resumed in A-Malab, 60st. and 20 st. areas inside Ramadi. Roads within Anbar remain unsafe and blocked in some places due to ongoing military operations. Trucks cannot pass checkpoints on the road linking Hadith and Beji, reportedly some 30 trucks with fuel have been stuck there.
IDP movements
According to MoDM and UNHCR field staff reports, the number of displaced families reached 45,428 families on 5 February. However, media reports that MoDM announced that 47,541 families have been displaced, indicating that some 35,000 have been displaced within Anbar and more than 12,000 fled to other governorates.
UNHCR field team in Salah Al-Din Governorate reported that according to the local authorities and MoDM, the number of IDP families from Anbar there is 6,281, out of which some 3,500 families are residing in Samara.
UNHCR staff reports that IDPs continue fleeing Fallujah and Ramadi, heading west to Haditha, Anna, Rawa and Al-Qaim, where local communities host them.
Humanitarian needs and assistance
As of 4 February UNHCR has completed the distribution of 2,112 CRI kits and 175 tents to the following areas 700 : for Al-Saqlawia Albo Shijil, Al-Falahat, Albo Alwan , Al-Halabsa, 300 CRI to Hay Al-Shuhada 1,2 , Al-Nasaf in addition to the 260 CRI kits which have been distributed in Hit; 500 CRI kits for IDPs in Al-Habaniyah and 100 CRIs in Abu Ghraib (Khan Dhari). In addition to 14 CRIs for Diyala-Al-Kalis-Al Bu bali families and 13 in Babil-Al-Mahaweel for Al-Bo Alwan; 200 CRIs in Samara and 25 CRI for Kirkuk. In addition to 75 Tents to Amriyat Al-Fallujah and 100 tents to Al- Habaniya tourist City. On 5 February 200 CRI kits were distributed to Samarra. Another 200 CRI kits will be released and dispatched to Tikrit in coming days.
On 4 February UNHCR met with Mr. Asghar A. Al-Mosawy, Deputy Minister of MODM. MODM informed about a letter prepared to be sent to the Ministry of Interior of KRG advising on issuance of residence permits to IDPs arriving to the Kurdistan Region from Anbar. MODM requested the GoI to provide USD 35 million to address the Anbar crisis, although so far only USD 10 million have been allocated for the initial emergency response. This amount will be spent to provide IDPs with food packages and blankets. While the Deputy Minister agreed with UNHCR that the registration of IDPs is essential, he requested support to reinforce staffing to conduct the registration.
On 5 February a UNHCR multi- functional team, comprised of the Representative, Senior Emergency Coordinator, Senior Protection Advisor from UNHCR Sub-Office Erbil and the MoDM Erbil representative, visited Shaklawa town in Erbil Governorate. The team had a meeting with the Director of Asayish as well as the Local Civil Defence Office, who reported that 1,544 IDP families (6,182 persons) are staying there in hotels, motels and rental summer houses.
The number of new comers has been increasing steadily, reaching stretching hosting capacity of the city. Shaklawa is a popular summer resort and since the Newrouz season is approaching, IDPs may be pressured to leave hotels and summer houses. This may lead to the secondary displacement.
UNHCR team also visited a motel and met with IDP families staying there. The motel which has capacity to host seven families, looked overcrowded with more than 450 people and three to four families sharing one apartment, paying USD 400- 500 per month. IDP families reported that their resources had already been exhausted and they would not be able to pay the next month's rent. Moreover, they stated that they are lacking heaters, food and blankets.
On 4 February MoDM initiated distribution of food packages and blankets to 450 families in Shaklawa.