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 ERBIL GOVERNORATE January 2007 Table of Contents I. Background 2 II. Summary of Monitoring Activities 2 III. Summary of Governorate 3 IV. Analysis of Rapid Needs Assessment Survey Findings 4 1. Location, Ethnicity, Religion, Gender and Vulnerabilities 4 2. Place of Origin, Flight and Intentions 5 3. Security Situation in Current Location 6 4. Humanitarian Assistance 6 5. Access to Basic Services and Shelter 6 6. Comparison of Basic Conditions Across Sub-Districts 8 7. Priority Needs 9 I. Background1 UNHCR2 estimates that over 1.8 million people remained displaced within Iraq as of the end of December 2006, some 640,000 of whom were displaced in 2006 following the Samarra attacks in February 2006. These attacks resulted in an 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 fatal violence and insecurity throughout most of Iraq. Mixed communities, particularly in Baghdad are bearing the brunt of the conflict between members of Iraq’s principal religious groups, Shi’a and Sunni Muslims. Ethnic and religious minority groups in southern and central Iraq, including Christians and Kurds, are without strong protection networks and are particularly vulnerable to violence and intimidation. Many IDPs are seeking refuge in the region of Kurdistan, on which this report focuses. In part due to its relative security, the region of Kurdistan has witnessed a steady movement of families into the area since 2003. In 2006, this flow increased dramatically as families continued to relocate due to threats and generalized violence. This population influx has placed additional pressure on the real estate market and public service sector in Kurdistan and has led to increased concerns about security and demographic shifts. At the same time the KRG has also benefited from the migration of professionals who have brought with them skills and disposable incomes that boost the local economy. II. Summary of Monitoring Activities Monitoring activities in Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah include regular visits by UNHCR’s partner to IDP locations to assess conditions, regular consultation with KRG officials and other stakeholders (including IRCS) to monitor the overall IDP population, and conducting Rapid Needs Assessments and other specialized surveys. 1 This Report was researched and drafted with its partner IRD. 2 UNHCR Update on Newly-Displaced Populations in Iraq, 15 November 2006. See also Cluster F Update on Newly Displaced Populations in Iraq as of 31 December 2006. 2 The Rapid Needs Assessment gathers information about basic services and needs including access to food, health care and water, as well as cause of flight, property and future intentions through standardized surveying across the three Northern Governorates. The assessment are overseen by a monitoring manager with the assistance of six monitoring teams (each team consisting of two persons) with two teams working in each governorate, and two data input officers. Monitoring teams complete between 150-175 surveys per week depending on location visited and length of interview. The monitors consulted with other stakeholders to gather additional information. From 10 October until 30 November 2006, IRD surveyed 996 families across the Governorates of Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, seeking to cover all the areas of IDP concentration in order to fully represent and provide information on the situation and needs of this group. 349 were surveyed in Erbil Governorate. III. Summary of Governorate Administrative Erbil City capital Sub-districts of Ainkawa, Erbil City, Khabat Erbil district surveyed Size 14,428 km2 Population 1,425,000 Post Feb. 2006 Districts Arab Christian Kurd Total IDP families Erbil City 941 451 824 2216 Makhmour 17 0 0 17 Shaqlawa 62 4 19 85 Soran 0 0 4 4 Total 1,020 455 847 2,322 No. IDP families 349 (11% of total estimated IDP population) surveyed Source of data Directorate of Security (for Kurds and Arabs). Religious institutions estimate that there are 1,400 IDP families in the Governorate. The survey focused on the three sub-districts within Erbil District of Erbil Governorate - Ainkawa, Erbil City and Khabat - due to their high concentration of IDPs at the time of survey planning. 11% of the Governorate’s estimated IDP population was surveyed. Numbers and Ethnicity: Erbil Governorate has the fewest IDPs among the Governorates administered by the KRG. 43% of IDPs in Erbil are Arabs, 47% are Kurds and 20% are Christians. Taking into consideration the figure provided by religious institutions, the Christians comprise 43% of IDPs in Erbil. The majority of these IDPs have fled sectarian violence in Baghdad and Ninewa. Entry and Shelter: While persons originating from the Governorate have generally been able to enter, reside and move freely within the Governorate, all non-Kurds relocating to the Governorate need to have a sponsor to enter the Governorate and to legalize their stay through registration with the Directorate of Residence. IDPs legally resident in Erbil receive an 3 identification card which is valid for three to six months and can be renewed. IDPs in the Governorate are also required to register with the local security office in the village/sub-district of their residence. Kurdish IDPs, provided they originate from the Erbil Governorate, do not face official obstacles to the purchase of homes, while other IDPs are officially prohibited from the purchase of real property in KRG territory. However, provided they have regularized their stay, IDPs are generally free to rent accommodation and live with relatives. While most IDP families live in rented housing, some are also living in private homes and with host families or relatives. Assistance: The KRG in Erbil does not provide official financial support to IDPs. However, Christian families receive a monthly cash allowance starting at $100 from the Ministry of Finance headed by Sarkis Agha Jan, a prominent Christian politician in the KRG.3 The IRCS also distributes assistance to new arrivals including flour, blankets and household items. Food and Basic Services: Food may be readily purchased in Erbil’s markets and IDP families are able to receive their food rations in Erbil, while they remain registered in their place of origin. However, there may be delays of two to three months until they start receiving the rations. Generally, the surveyed families have access to basic services such as water, health services and schools on par with local residents. All the surveyed children are vaccinated in their current location. IV. Analysis of Rapid Needs Assessment Survey Findings 1. Location, Ethnicity, Religion, Gender and Vulnerabilities Location: The majority of IDP families are living in Erbil district but families are also located in the districts of Shaqlawa, Qushtappa and Soran. Ethnicity: 55% of surveyed families are Ethnicity of IDPs by Sub-District Kurds, 23% are Arab, Erbil Gov. Kurd 21% are Christian Christian (Assyrian, Chaldean, Khabat Orthodox and Arab Armenian) and 1% are Erbil center Turkmen. The vast Turkmen majority of families Ainkaw a surveyed in Khabat Armenian district were Kurds 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% (97%) with a small minority of Arabs. In Ainkawa, the majority of families surveyed were Christian (53%), followed by Kurds (25%), Arabs (21%) and Armenian (2%). In Erbil City, surveyed families were mostly Arab (49%) and Kurd (46%), with a minority of Christians (3%) and Turkmen (2%). Religion: 67% of surveyed families were Sunni Muslim, 13% Shi’a Muslim, 19% Christian and 1% Sabean-Mandaean. 3 Previously erroneously reported as Sarkis Agha Khan 4 Gender and Age: 1,600 individuals were represented in the survey group, of which 53% were male and 47% female. 45% were below 18 years of age and the average family size was five persons. Vulnerabilities: 21% of the surveyed families reported vulnerabilities. Nine percent were female-headed households; other vulnerabilities included mental instability, serious illness, old age and pregnancy. Vulnerabilities were reported fairly evenly across sub-districts ranging from 17% (Ainkawa) to 26% (Erbil City). 2. Place of Origin, Flight and Intentions Place of Origin: 50% of IDP families surveyed are from Baghdad, 41% are from Ninewa and 9% are from Diyala, Al-Anbar, Kirkuk and Missan Governorates. Only 45% of families left behind residential property; 7% left commercial property or land, principally small businesses. 32% of IDP families surveyed with property in their place of origin said they still had access to it. Place of Origin by Sub-District 100% Baghdad 90% 80% 70% Ninewa 60% 50% 40% 30% Others (Diyala, 20% Anbar, 10% Kirkuk and Missan) 0% Ainkawa Erbil Centre Khabat Erbil Gov. Flight/Resources: Generalized violence was stated as the main cause of flight by 72% of families. 67% left out of fear and 23% also cited direct threats to life as causes of flight. 99% of families brought winter clothes with them, 59% brought food and 48% brought tools. 22% of families brought a vehicle with them. Most families that did not drive to Erbil in their own vehicle arrived by taxi, others may have flown. 96% of surveyed families reported this as their first displacement and the remaining 4% reported Intentions by Sub-District Return this as their second Erbil Gov. displacement. Resettle Intentions: Across Erbil, Khabat intentions are split with Locally Erbil center 53% planning to locally Integrate integrate, 33% undecided, and 10% planning to Ainkawa Undecided resettle in a third location. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 5 Four percent are planning to return. Over 47% of IDP families surveyed in Khabat and 39% of IDP families surveyed in Erbil City are undecided, compared to only 15% in Ainkawa, where the majority (71%), plan to integrate locally.