Iraqi Red Crescent Organization
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Iraqi Red Crescent Organization The Internally Displaced People in Iraq Update 31 27 February 2008 For additional information, please contact: In Iraq: 1. Iraqi Red Crescent Organization, President- Dr. Said Hakki, email: [email protected] 2. Iraqi Red Crescent Organization, Vice President- Dr. Jamal Al-Karboli, email: [email protected] 3. International Relation Department manager [email protected]; Mobile phone: +964 7901669159; Telephone: +964 1 5372925/24/23 4. Disaster Management Department manager [email protected]; Mobile phone: +964 7703045043; Telephone: +964 1 5372925/24/23 In Jordan: Amman Coordination Office: [email protected]; Mobile phone (manager):+962 796484058; Mobile phone (deputy manager): +962 797180940 Also, visit the Iraqi Red Crescent Organization web site: iraqiredcrescent.org The Internally Displaced People in Iraq; update 31; 27 February 2008 Table of contents BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................ 2 REFUGEES IN IRAQ .................................................................................................................... 2 RETURNEES FROM SYRIA........................................................................................................... 2 THE TURKISH BOMBARDMENT IN THE NORTH OF IRAQ ................................................................ 2 THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE (IDP).............................................................................. 3 THE PROBLEMS FACING THE IDP................................................................................................ 4 ROLE OF THE IRAQI RED CRESCENT ORGANIZATION............................................... 5 NUMBER OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE IN IRAQ FOR 2008 ......................... 6 DISTRIBUTION OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE IN THE IRAQI GOVERNORATES ...................... 6 NUMBER OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE IN IRAQ FOR 2006-2007 ................ 7 HUMANITARIAN AID DISTRIBUTION IN THE GOVERNORATES................................ 8 THE NEEDS OF THE IRAQI RED CRESCENT TO ASSIST THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE .............................................................................................................. 9 IRAQI RC BRANCH REPORTS ON THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE.......... 12 1. BAGHDAD ........................................................................................................................... 12 2. BASRAH .............................................................................................................................. 15 3. NINAWA.............................................................................................................................. 16 4. NAJAF ................................................................................................................................. 17 5. KIRKUK............................................................................................................................... 18 6. KERBALA ............................................................................................................................ 19 7. SALADIN ............................................................................................................................. 20 8. DOHUK................................................................................................................................ 21 9. DIWANIYAH ........................................................................................................................ 22 10. SULEIMANIAH.................................................................................................................... 23 11. ANBAR .............................................................................................................................. 24 12. MISSAN............................................................................................................................. 25 13. ERBIL................................................................................................................................ 26 14. BABIL................................................................................................................................ 27 15. THI QAR............................................................................................................................ 28 16. WASSIT ............................................................................................................................. 29 17. MUTHANNA....................................................................................................................... 30 18. DIYALA............................................................................................................................. 31 Iraqi Red Crescent Organization; Disaster Management Department 1 The Internally Displaced People in Iraq; update 31; 27 February 2008 Background Two years have passed since the bombing of the Holy Shrines in Samara' (February 2006). This incident ignited sectarian and ethnic conflict throughout Iraq on a scale never seen before. Thousands of families fled from their areas seeking refuge in more secure areas. These events, in addition to decades of severe oppression and sanctions fractured the integrity of civil order and society in Iraq. Over two million people became internally displaced, and over two million became externally displaced in neighboring countries. A slight decline in the number of internally displaced people in Iraq was observed as of October 2007. At the same time, a number of externally displaced families returned from Syria to Iraq. This decline in the number of displaced people and the returnees from Syria does not mean the disappearance of the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, which is the result of multiple wars for over three decades. Recently Kurdistan, the safe haven for many Iraqis, became involved in armed conflict too. Both the Iranian and Turkish military were bombarding the border villages with artillery shells for weeks. Thousands of villagers left their homes and migrated inland for fear of their lives thus compounding the displacement problem in Iraq. Refugees in Iraq Iraq embraced many families from other Arab countries, which underwent difficult situations. These families could not endure the violent situation in Iraq during the past few years. They could not leave Iraq because no other country accepted to receive them and they continue to live in refugee camps at the Iraqi borders. They continue to endure very difficult living condition in the desert areas, hoping that some humanitarian organizations will adopt their case and provide them with their simplest human rights and dignity. The Iraqi Red Crescent continues to provide these refugee families with humanitarian assistance. The following is a summary of the Refugees in Iraq problem: . Sudanese camp: The camp is located 370km from the center of Anbar governorate in an area called 70 Kilos (as it lies 70 km from Al-Ratba city). Forty Sudanese families resided in the camp since three years. The Iraqi Red Crescent assessed the needs of the camp and delivered food and relief aid. Ahwasian camp: This camp is located at the borders with Jordan (Traibeel area) and sheltered 300 Iranian families from Ahwaz area (at the Iraqi-Iranian border). Some of those families moved to the north of Iraq and others moved to Tash area since 1980 hoping that they will migrate to European countries. The majority of the families already migrated leaving behind 40 families. The Iraqi Red Crescent assists those families through distributing food and relief aid. Al-Waleed Palestinian camp: A total of 292 families reside in this camp and the number is increasing. The camp is located in Tanaf area 450 km from the center of Anbar governorate at the Iraqi-Syrian borders. The Iraqi Red Crescent assess regularly the needs of the camp and deliver food and relief aid and health care. Returnees from Syria In September 2007, the Syrian authorities started to request all Iraqis to obtain a visa before attempting to travel to Syria. All Iraqis have to pay 50 USD at the borders upon entry, including businessmen and people traveling for humanitarian purposes. Some Iraqi families residing in Syria could not get their residency renewed and others suffered from the high cost of rented apartments and the high cost of living coupled with unemployment. All this had forced many families to return to Iraq. The Iraqi government facilitated the return of many families by providing transport to the returnees from Syria to Iraq and a 1-million Iraqi Dinar (800USD) grant for each returning family. (See Updates on Returnees at http://www.iraqredcrescent.org/reports.html ) The Turkish bombardment in the north of Iraq For more than 15 years, the Kurds lived in the northern part of Iraq securely and independently, compared to the other parts of Iraq. After the attack on the Holy Shrines in Samara', the northern governorates received many internally displaced families from the south and the center of the country who sought security and shelter. Iraqi Red Crescent Organization; Disaster Management Department 2 The Internally Displaced People in Iraq; update 31; 27 February 2008 In October 2007, the Turkish military bombarded the border villages. Hundreds of families left their homes and moved to other areas seeking safety. In December 2007, the attacks were resumed on several areas including Shanshan,