IRAQ PROTECTION UPDATE – MAY 2019

Affected Highlights

Population ▪ Approximately 1,400 families across departed from camps, and almost 300 arrived in camps in May 2019. Security concerns, 297,469 Refugees and contamination of explosive hazards, destruction of houses, inability to pay Asylum-Seekers rent, lack of livelihood opportunities and basic services are frequently (as of 31 May 2019) cited as reasons hindering IDPs’ return to their areas of origin.

1,665,108 Internally ▪ Security incidents occurred in Anbar, Diyala, , Ninewa and Salah al-Din resulting in casualties and destruction of crops. Displaced Persons (IDPs) ▪ IDPs residing in camps and informal settlements in Salah al-Din and

Sulaymaniyah Governorates are concerned over the coming closure of 4,266,882 Returnees (as of 30 April 2019) camps and settlements. ▪ UNHCR and partners supported the Ministry of Interior’s Mobile Civil Documentation Project in Baharka and Harshem IDP camps in Governorate. A total of 890 Civil Status IDs and 339 Nationality Certificates were issued to IDPs.

3,072 families (14,277 Security Concerns in Areas of Origin individuals) reached Security incidents were reported throughout the month in Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salah al-Din Governorates, resulting in the intensification of security measures and impacted upon IDPs’ intention to return. In Anbar Governorate, security incidents occurred in Al-Rutbah, 3,120 3,326 4,163 3,668 *The disaggregated figures indicate the Al-Qaim and other areas in west Anbar, resulting in intensified military number of households containing search operations along the Iraqi-Syrian border. In Diyala, in mid-May, individuals from each age and gender group – including enrolment. extremists reportedly attacked three villages in Khanaqeen District resulting in four deaths and four injuries. During the attack, extremists

84% of families do not have allegedly burned the wheat farms in the area. In , access to a regular source of asymmetric attacks against government forces frequently occurred in the income*** southwest areas. On 10 May, extremists allegedly attacked a police checkpoint in Riyadh District resulting in the death of one police officer ** The data reflects the number of IDP households assessed from 1 May 2019 and serious injuries to two others. On the same day, extremists reportedly to 31 May 2019. used IEDs to explode a high-voltage tower in District, resulting in a power outage in the area. On 19 May, extremists reportedly set fire to *** Regular source of income includes pension, employment in private and the fields of wheat and barley in villages in Dibbis District. Residents in public sectors, and self-employment. the villages reported that, a few days before the attack, they refused to

pay religious tax to extremists. On 22 May, extremists reportedly set fire LINKS to wheat farms in District, which burnt 250 acres of farmland and Regional portal - UNHCR maimed two individuals who stepped on IEDs while attempting to operation page - Twitter - extinguish the fire. On 30 May, a similar incident occurred in Daquq Facebook District where unknown perpetrators set fire to 300 acres of farmland,

resulting in the death of one civilian and injuries to seven others. In Ninewa Governorate, attacks using vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (motorcycles) occurred in City on 5 and 18 May. A number of extremist attacks using IEDs were also reported in Baaj, Hamadaniya and Tel Afar Districts. In Salah al-Din Governorate, extremists continue to carry out attacks in the retaken areas, jeopardizing the safety of returnees and affecting the sustainability of returns. On 8 May, extremists www.unhcr.org

Iraq Protection Update - May 2019

allegedly attacked a family who had returned to a village in Yathrib Sub-District in Balad District, killing three and injuring four others. During the month, security actors and extremists allegedly burned hundreds of acres of wheat and barley in Balad and Shirqat Districts.

Barriers to Return and Secondary Displacement 1,463 families departed camps across Iraq during May, while 284 families arrived in camps. Of these, 196 families were in secondary displacement. According to protection monitoring conducted by UNHCR and partners, IDPs living in camps and informal settlements cited security concerns, explosive hazard contamination, destruction of houses, inability to pay rent, lack of livelihood opportunities and basic services as the main reasons preventing them from returning to their areas of origin.

In addition, intense security and administrative measures also hindered IDPs from return. In Ninewa Governorate, IDPs in Hamam Ali-Alil (HAA) camps reported that security forces at checkpoints in Rabia and Districts requested IDPs to obtain security clearance from their area of origin before granting passage. Reportedly, some returnees paid bribes of up to 100,000 IQD to procure security clearances. IDP families in Jeda’a 5 camp reported they were prohibited to return to their villages by the security forces. In Jeda’a 6 camp, multiple IDP families reported that the camp management only approved departures of ten families per day as they are unable to register more than ten families in their database in a day.

Families who have managed to return are also facing many challenges. For instance, during protection monitoring visits in Hawaija District, Kirkuk Governorate, UNHCR found many families living in unfinished buildings or sharing latrines and washing facilities with other families. The families requested assistance to repair their houses and complained about the shortage in drinking water and electricity. UNHCR also monitored the situation of returnees in Tal-Al Thahab village in Amerli Sub District, Salah al-Din Governorate and found that 95% of the houses were destroyed along with the primary health centre, primary school and mosque. UNHCR is looking into the possibility of providing core relief items and emergency shelter kits to support the returnees. In Ba’aja village in Shirqat District, Ninewa Governorate, returnees expressed concerns regarding the lack of essential services and livelihood opportunities in the area. The majority of returnees are female headed households with large numbers of children, depending on charity from relatives.

Forced Evictions and Camp Closures Forced evictions continue to be reported. On 9 May, government forces reportedly relocated seven families to Habaniyah Tourist City (HTC) camp in Anbar Governorate. The forces allegedly claimed that the families were punished for not sharing enough information about individuals who planted IEDs that exploded near their houses in Nu’yamia town, south of City. As a result of advocacy efforts by humanitarian partners, the families were able to return to their homes.

IDPs in Al-Karama Camp in Salah al-Din Governorate (majority from District) expressed fears of being evicted due to the expected camp closures in the Governorate. The IDPs claimed they are unable to return to their areas of origin due to the mass destruction of houses. Furthermore, IDPs living in Al Qadisiyah complex and other informal settlements in District, Salah al-Din Governorate, also expressed their concerns regarding the possible forced eviction at the end of the school year (end of June). The families expressed their fears that the security forces would force them to return to their areas of origin, which lack security and basic infrastructure such as water, electricity and suitable shelter. In Governorate, the local government announced the closure of Surdesh camp (which currently hosts 67 families). According to intention surveys conducted in the camp, all 45 families who

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Iraq Protection Update - May 2019

responded expressed their preference to stay in the camp. UNHCR and partners are working to ensure that the closure is done in a principled manner and does not exacerbate protection risks.

Collective Punishment UNHCR continues to receive reports of collective punishment of families due to accusations of perceived affiliation with extremists. In Amriyeat Al Falujah (AAF) camp in Anbar Governorate, IDPs claimed they were unable to return as the local authorities marked their houses to identify them as being affiliated with extremists. In Jeda’a1 camp in Kirkuk Governorate, families originally from Qarach Sub-District of in Erbil who lived in since 1993 reported they were unable to return to their village as the security forces prevented non-original citizens from returning - specifically targeting families from Qarach for their perceived affiliation with extremists.

Iraqi Returnees from Syria During the reporting period, 93 Iraqi Yazidis reportedly returned from Syria through the town of Rabia in Tel Afar District, Ninewa Governorate. All returns were self-organized.

Syrian Refugees and Asylum-seekers In May, UNHCR registered 1,489 individuals from Syria, including 807 new arrivals. Currently, the total number of Syrian refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR is 252,983 individuals (47% female and 53% male). Nearly 99% of the population resides in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I), where 38% are living in camps and 62% out-of-camp. The majority of Syrian refugees originate from Al-Hasakeh (58.7%) followed by Aleppo (24.7%) and Damascus (9.5%).

Response by UNHCR and Partners • From 29 April to 2 May, UNHCR and partners supported the Ministry of Interior (MoI)’s Pilot Project on Civil Documentation rolled out in Baharka and Harshem IDP camps in . Prior to the mission, UNHCR and partners identified IDPs who were lacking documents and prepared physical files to apply for the Civil Status ID and the Nationality Certificate. The mission was composed of 11 Officers from Baghdad and Ninewa Nationality and Civil Affairs Directorate. As a result, MoI issued a total of 890 Civil Status IDs and 339 Nationality Certificates to the IDPs. Stakeholders involved in the project are now discussing ways to improve the process and to expand it to camps and out-of-camp areas in other governorates. • On 18 May, UNHCR and partners conducted a workshop in Mosul for 22 judges working in Ninewa Governorate on the topic of legal protection and the rights of refugee children. Discussions covered Iraq’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the principle of the best interests of the child and alternatives to detention. • UNHCR and partners frequently conduct information sessions for refugees, IDPs and returnees to raise awareness on their rights and obligations. In Erbil Governorate, UNHCR and partners conducted awareness-raising sessions for refugees covering topics such as child rights, child marriage, child labour and domestic violence. A total of 388 refugees attended the sessions. In Kirkuk Governorate, UNHCR and partners conducted multiple legal awareness sessions on compensation, civil documentation and social protection for IDPs in Laylan Camps. • UNHCR conducted a session on the legal frameworks and the protection of LGBTI individuals in Erbil Governorate for UNHCR and partner staff. The session raised awareness on the sensitive situation of LGBTI persons within the country and the importance of handling such cases professionally and without discrimination, ensuring that the person of concern is provided with specialized services as required.

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