IRAQ UNHCR IDP OPERATIONAL UPDATE 1-15 August 2015

KEY FIGURES HIGHLIGHTS 876,000  On 12 August, Mr. Bruno Geddo, UNHCR Representative, visited the Al Salam IDPs provided with shelter and core IDP site in Governorate, and met with IDPs from Salah al Din and relief items since January 2014 Anbar Governorates. 1,314,155 IDPs reached through protection monitoring since January 2014 30,000 Individuals received special needs support since January 2014 73,942 People provided with legal assistance since January 2014

FUNDING USD 465.6 million requested for the operation in 2015

Internally displaced children play video games in the summer evening heat in Baharka Camp near , . Residents of the camp struggle to cope with temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius. (UNHCR/E. Ou)

More than 3,171,606 people of concern (Source: IOM-DTM Round XXV1 12 August, 2015). There are about 79,704 IDPs in the five southern governorates according to local authorities, not included below.

PRIORITIES . Registration and needs profiling . Increase access to legal assistance . Prioritize the most vulnerable . Reduce risk of SGBV . Provide essential shelter and NFIs . WASH facilities in camps

1 UNHCR IDP Operational Update - Iraq

UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS

Operational Context According to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), the estimated number of internally displaced Iraqis now exceeds 3.171 million, spread across more than 3,500 locations countrywide.

Conflict and violence continue to affect most of Central and North-Central Iraq, including Anbar, Ninewa, Salah al Din and governorates with clashes near Baiji, and cities. Airstrikes continued in Ninewa Governorate and areas in north-eastern Dohuk Governorate.

Generalized violence continued with a large attack at a market in Baghdad city. Public demonstrations continued with Iraqis in , Baghdad and governorates protesting lack of electricity, unemployment and lack of public services.

The Government of Iraq saw widespread changes as Prime Minister Abadi launched a reform campaign in the wake of recent weeks’ political climate of mounting popular discontent and unrest. Many government ministries and posts were affected.

Displacement continued throughout Anbar Governorate with families fleeing conflict near Ramadi and Fallujah cities, and from towns in western Anbar. Conflict in caused civilians to be displaced towards Kirkuk city. Access to safety for IDPs continues to be a challenge across Iraq. Access to many of Iraq’s governorates remains contingent upon sponsorship and many families are unable to afford transportation costs to travel to safe areas, such as the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I). Various checkpoints are sporadically closed, preventing families from accessing safety. The inability of civilians to access safety remains a major protection concern, both on account of being prevented from fleeing areas under ISIL control or due to restrictions imposed by authorities.

Families continue to return from Kirkuk, Diyala, and Dohuk governorates to their areas of origin in Ninewa, Diyala and Salah al Din governorates. In particular, Kirkuk authorities informed IDPs from Salah al Din and Diyala governorates they had to return to their areas of origin. Families returning to areas of origin after the withdrawal of armed groups often remain vulnerable as they face a lack of livelihood opportunities, destruction of property, contamination by explosive remnants of the conflict, limited availability of food and non-food items, documentation problems as well as poor access to health, clean water and education. UNHCR and the UN humanitarian country team do not encourage organized voluntary returns of IDPs in view of the continued absence in many locations of protection conditions conducive to return. However, support is provided to spontaneous IDP returnees whenever it is safe to do so.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – www.unhcr.org 2 UNHCR IDP Operational Update - Iraq

Protection The monitoring teams of UNHCR and its partners have reached more than 1.3 million individuals throughout Iraq since January 2014, in order to determine needs, vulnerabilities, registration status, demographic information, and accommodation circumstances.

CAMP Achievements and Impact  UNHCR coordinated with NGOs to deliver training to camp committee volunteers who will provide summer activities for children in Karbato Camp in Dohuk Governorate.  In Dawodia Camp in Dohuk Governorate, UNHCR and partners installed a notice board for public messages, awareness campaigns and information sharing among camp residents.

Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps  Due to lack of funding, child-friendly spaces in Dohuk Governorate were suspended in Garmawa Camp and Rwanga Community. Community volunteers mobilized to re-open to spaces for children.  Lack of kitchen units in Bersive 1 and Sharia camps remains a gap. The IDPs use the space near the tents for food preparation, increasing the risk of fire.  Ashti Camp in Sulaymaniah Governorate needs child protection services.  IDPs living in caravans in Missan Camp in Missan Governorate lack privacy in their living spaces, and the caravans are overcrowded.

NON-CAMP Achievements and Impact  UNHCR protection staff and partners conducted protection monitoring assessments for 3,597 families reaching 19,408 people across Iraq to identify vulnerable families in need of legal assistance, cash assistance, and referral to other services.  UNHCR visited 27 families in Summel District in Dohuk Governorate where five youths were identified to join community committees.  UNHCR is supporting the Sulaymaniah authorities to improve registration of IDPs arriving at Sulaymaniah airport.  UNHCR partners disseminated information about IDP services in five communities in Sulaymaniah Governorate.  UNHCR and partners conducted a child protection campaign, a personal hygiene campaign, and an information session about preservation of shared services and property, in particular WASH facilities, at the Basra Collective Centre in . The Women’s Committee at Basra Collective Centre also initiated a cleaning campaign with support from UNHCR and partners.  In Missan Governorate, UNHCR and partners launched an awareness campaign on breast cancer and chronic health issues reaching 67 women.  Six GBV workshops were conducted in Thi-Qar, Muthanna and Qadissiya governorates reaching 300 women and men.

Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps  IDPs in Kirkuk Governorate continue to be at risk of arrest due to lack of documentation.  Many IDPs in Dohuk Governorate lack identification documents. Civil identification offices are often crowded and IDPs many have to make several costly journeys to the office before being able to replace documents.  In Dohuk Governorate many IDPs living in unfinished buildings face risk of eviction and have relocated to tents in informal settlements. The informal settlements lack basic services.

Shelter and NFIs

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – www.unhcr.org 3 UNHCR IDP Operational Update - Iraq

As the inter-agency Shelter/NFI Cluster lead agency, UNHCR continued to promote the implementation of the national Shelter/NFI Cluster shelter strategy, complementing the work of local authorities and other humanitarian actors in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable IDPs throughout Iraq. Those prioritised for assistance include people living outdoors, in sub-standard structures, or with particular vulnerabilities.

UNHCR Progresses with the Summerization Programme  With temperatures reaching 50c throughout Iraq, UNHCR continues to assist vulnerable IDP families to cope with the heat through distributions of fans, supplemental water jerry cans, and sleeping mats.  UNHCR completed distribution of summarization items in Dohuk Governorate.  In 2015, UNHCR and partners have distributed summarization items to the following IDPs: o 4,246 families (25,446 people) in Sulaymaniah Governorate; o 14,134 families (about 84,804 people) across ; o 24,446 families (about 146,000 people) across Dohuk Governorate, including in 13 camps; and, o 850 families in the Mountain area in Ninewa Governorate.  UNHCR has also constructed shade areas in camps for residents and for camp service provision.  UNHCR will distribute summerization items to 10,000 families in the central and southern governorates including, air coolers, plastic cool boxes, water tanks with 500 liter capacity, steel stands for air coolers, rechargeable fans, plastic tarpaulins and jerry cans.  Summerization items will also be distributed to non-camp IDPs based on resource availability. Many families living in tents and substandard conditions still need summerization items.

CAMP Achievements and Impact  All IDP families stuck at Skekh Langar checkpoint relocated to Tazede Camp in Sulaymaniah Governorate in coordination with local authorities and UNHCR.  In Kirkuk Governorate, UNHCR partners completed the expansion of Laylan Camp increasing the accommodation capacity to 2,005 families. UNHCR is coordinating with local authorities to identify another 222 families to welcome into the new accommodation.  UNHCR partners in Sulaymaniah Governorate started land preparation to add 1,592 shelter plots to Ashti IDP Camp. Upon completion, Ashti IDP Camp will host approximately 2,500 families (15,000 people) in 2,630 shelters.  UNHCR started the construction of a new camp for 500 families near the Bzeibiz Bridge, the main access point between Anbar and Baghdad.  Fifty families, or about 300 people, relocated from unfinished buildings to Bardarash Camp in Dohuk Governorate.  UNHCR partners continue care and maintenance for five UNHCR camps in Dohuk Governorate. The projects involve fixing doors, windows, roofs, electrical appliances, drainage and piping.

Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps  Replacement tents are needed in Bajet Kandala, Khanke and Sheikhan camps in Dohuk Governorate.

NON-CAMP Achievements and Impact  UNHCR and partners distributed core relief items to 783 families in Kirkuk Governorate.  UNHCR partners began renovation in seven informal settlements housing about 100 families in Taslujah, Dukhan and Barzian districts of Governorate. Renovations include upgrading the water system, installation of latrines and showers, and minor repairs to improve safety for children.

Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps  IDPs living in Erbil hotels are isolated from humanitarian assistance and community support networks. Families are living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – www.unhcr.org 4 UNHCR IDP Operational Update - Iraq

Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) CAMPS Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps  Tazede Camp in Sulaymaniah Governorate needs a permanent water treatment plant. The temporary water supply system is at maximum capacity and cannot meet the needs of additional camp residents.  Lack of garbage collection is also a gap at Tazede Camp.

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP

 The Regional Director of UNICEF visited Bahraka and Hersham IDP camps in Erbil Governorate. UNHCR was part of the team to receive and brief the director on camp activities and progress. UNICEF constructed two prefabricated schools for the IDP children in Bahraka and Hersham camps.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Total recorded contributions for the operation Funding received in 2015 (USD) amount to some US$ 36.6 million JAPAN 17,310,000 UNHCR is grateful for the critical support provided by UNITED KINGDOM 7,633,588 donors who have contributed to this operation, GERMANY 4,241,782 especially to those who have contributed to UNHCR NORWAY 2,644,803 programmes with unearmarked and broadly earmarked funds. PRIVATE DONORS 1,307,396 Major donors of unrestricted and regional EUROPEAN UNION 816,995 contributions in 2015: AUSTRIA 680,272 of America (160 M) | Sweden (80 M) | SWITZERLAND 652,174 United Kingdom (53 M) | Netherlands (45 M) | ITALY 566,893 Norway (44 M) | Denmark (28 M) | Australia (24 M) | Priv Donors Spain (22 M) | Japan (18 M) | FRANCE 500,000 Switzerland (16 M) | France (14 M) | Canada (11 M) | SPAIN 130,719 Germany (11 M) LIECHTENSTEIN 108,696

Contacts: Natalia Micevic, Associate Reporting Officer, [email protected], Cell +964 (0) 780 919 3947 Kathryn Lo, Associate Field Officer, [email protected], Cell +964 (0) 780 921 7336

For more information on the work of UNHCR and our partners in Iraq, please follow us on Twitter at @unhcriraq and on Facebook at “UNHCRinIraq” or write to [email protected]

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – www.unhcr.org 5