DOCSLIB.ORG

Thi-Qar Post-February 22 Emergency Idp Monitoring and Assessments May 15 – September 15, 2006

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Thi-Qar Post-February 22 Emergency Idp Monitoring and Assessments May 15 – September 15, 2006 THI-QAR POST-FEBRUARY 22 EMERGENCY IDP MONITORING AND ASSESSMENTS MAY 15 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 Governorate number: 33 Capital: Nassiriyah Districts: Al-Chibayish, Al-Rifa’i, Al-Shatra, Nassriya, Suq Al-Shoyokh Total post-Feb. 22 IDPs as of reporting date: 1377 families Total IDP and IDP returnee pre-Feb. 22: 7042 families POST-FEBRUARY 22 EMERGENCY IDP MONITORI NG AND NEEDS ASSESSMENTS: BACKGROUND An alarming increase in displacement due to heightened tensions after the bombing of the Askariya shrine in Samarra on February 22, 2006 brought to light the need for comprehensive, thorough monitoring and assessments of recently-displaced populations. IOM has been assessing IDPs displaced since February 22 in the central and lower 15 governorates in Iraq. The monitors use IDP Rapid Assessment Templates for both IDP groups and individual IDP families. The IDP Rapid Assessment Template addresses a number of issues and needs, including food, health care, water and sanitation, documentation, and property, and the templates outline the IDPs’ future intentions. Monitors visit IDP tribal and community leaders, local NGOs, local government bodies, and individual IDP families to gather information and complete the templates. Once the information is gathered, it is then entered into a database for analyzing. After the information from the templates is collected and analyzed, IOM returns to the governorates to gather additional information from the field. This additional information provides a more in-depth look at the situation and issues surrounding displacement in each governorate. With this information, IOM is developing Governorate Needs Assessments for the 15 central and lower governorates in Iraq. These Governorate Needs Assessments will assist IOM and other agencies to prioritize areas of operation, plan emergency responses, and design long-term, durable solutions. POST-FEBRUARY 22 IDP OVERVIEW Background The governorate of Thi-Qar is located in Iraq’s southern region, bordered in the south by the governorates of Basrah and Muthanna and in the north by the governorates of Qadissiya, Missan and Wassit. An estimated population of 1,520,000 people is distributed throughout the districts. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION Nasiriyah, the capital city, lies along the Euphrates River about 400 km south of Baghdad. With the exception of Nasiriyah, a dynamic trade and economic center, the rest of the districts in Thi- Qar rely on agricultural activities. A vital component of these industries was represented by the marshlands covering the south-eastern part of Iraq and flowing over part of Thi-Qar governorate. Thi-Qar Governorate is one of the safest in southern Iraq as a result of good tribal relations and religiously homogenous communities. Cooperation between political parties and authorities is usually strong in this governorate. Thi-Qar’s relative stability has made it an attractive destination for displaced people, especially the recently-displaced. The following information provides an overview of the current situation, highlights needs, and suggested areas of intervention relating to recently-displaced IDPs in Thi-Qar. Information was gathered from a variety of sources: IDP representatives, the IDP host community, local authorities, MoDM Branch Offices, religious leaders, partner NGOs and other NGOs working in these areas. Despite increasing insecurity and instability throughout Iraq, IOM strives to stay abreast with updated and accurate information. Displacement is ongoing, however, and displacement information changes on a daily basis. Total displaced: During the reporting period (May 15 to September 15), 1,377 families were identified and assessed. Their current districts of displacement within Thi-Qar are Al-Chibayish (60 families), Al-Rafa’I (314 families), Al-Shantra (268 families), Nasiriyah (with 373 families, this district has the most families), and Suq Al-Shoyokh (362 families). Ethnicity: All IDPs being displaced to Thi-Qar are of Arab ethnicity and all are Shia Muslim except one family, who is Sunni Muslim. This follows a trend occurring throughout Iraq; IDPs are moving from religiously mixed areas to homogenous areas. Thi-Qar’s population is primarily Shia Muslim, so IDPs of this sect tend to be moving to Thi-Qar and other religious homogenous southern regions. Places of Origin: Their places of origin are as follows: Bagdad: 66% Salah al-Din: 11% Anbar: 10% Tameem: 6% Diyala: 4% Babylon: 2% Ninewa: less than 1% Wassit: less than 1% INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION IDPs' Place of Origin (Thi-Qar) Babylon 2.69% Anbar 9.73% Baghdad 66.38% Wassit 0.36% Tameem 5.52% Salah al-Din 11.04% Ninewa 0.15% Diyala 4.14% Reasons for Displacement: IDPs left their places of origin for multiple reasons, but all factors revolve around a heightened concern for safety. Threats, assignations, kidnappings, and generalized violence all contribute to instability and subsequent displacement. The interview forms used during the rapid assessment allowed IDPs to list their various reasons for displacement. 643 families said forced displacement from their property was a reason for leaving, 123 gave armed conflict as a reason, 888 gave generalized violence as a reason, 1,336 listed direct threats to their lives as a reason, 1,088 reported that they left out of fear, 12 claimed “other reasons” for leaving, and 11 did not provide an answer. 1,374 families thought they were targeted due to belonging to a certain religion or sect, 15 families believed they were targeted due to being a certain ethnic group, and 28 families for holding a certain political opinion (this response was multiple-choice). The majority of families (662, or 48%), were displaced in March. 4% were displaced in February, 8% in April, 3% in May, 3% in June and 34% in July. 99% of families were displaced only once since February 22, and 1% of families did not provide an answer. Overview of IDP camps: Two camps were established in Thi-Qar, in Nasiriyah City and in Al-Fajer, 90 km north of Nasiriyah. Nasiriyah City camp originally hosted 19 families who were displaced from Baghdad/Abu-Ghraib district due to direct threats to their lives. This camp was established through the cooperation of MoDM and IRC. It consisted of 35 tents (enough to temporarily house 67 persons). Food assistance was temporarily supplied through MoDM, IRC, and religious entities. Water tanks and latrines were set up in the camp. There was no electricity available, and only a few families who lived in the camp had a generator. Due to a lack of resources, the 19 families quickly abandoned the camp, therefore local authorities and MoDM decided to close it and they will not establish a new one unless necessary. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION The second camp, established by the Iranian Red Crescent, was located in Al-Fajer sub-district. In the beginning, 75 families arrived at the camp, but the population left shortly afterwards due to a lack of services. Most of these families were displaced from Abu-Ghraib, and Tarmiya, with two families from Gazalia. Only one family stayed in the camp (from Gazalia). Assistance, mainly food items, was provided by the IRC, as well as some political and religious organizations and foundations. Outline of Already-Existing IDP Population (pre-February 22, 2006) Before February 22, Thi-Qar already hosted a total estimated 7,042 IDP families (pre-2003, post- 2003, and IDP returnee). Of those, the greatest numbers of IDPs were displaced after the 2003 conflict. Movement to Thi-Qar since 2003 was due to the proliferation of armed militias, criminal and terrorist organizations, especially in the center of Iraq, and due to religious discrimination. Many IDPs who had left Thi-Qar Governorate during the 1990s to escape the repercussions of Saddam’s regime following the failed Shia uprising in 1991 tried to move back to their original homes after the overthrow of Saddam’s government in 2003. They returned from their place of usual residence in Kerbala, Baghdad, Babylon, Diyala, Kirkuk and Basrah. Many IDP Returnees do not have their own land and are coming back to the southern areas where they have previously lived in villages as sharecropping farmers. IDP Returnee families were living in public buildings; schools, police and military compounds; and some were living with their relatives in the cities. IDP Population’s relationship with the Host Community The IDPs fleeing to Thi-Qar appear to have a good relationship with the host community. All but 20 families (2%) said that they were received well by the host community. This is most likely due to the fact that the host community’s religious orientation is similar to that of the arriving IDPs. In addition, many people were displaced from Thi-Qar to escape the repercussions of Saddam’s regime following the failed Shia uprising and have since returned, as mentioned above. Therefore, some members of the host community had either directly experienced displacement themselves or had friends and family who were displaced. However, a continued decrease in security throughout Iraq and a subsequent increase in IDPs to Thi-Qar will put a strain on tolerant host communities. In addition, increased competition for scarce resources and an inflation in costs could create additional tension between IDPs and the host community. Intentions of post-February 22 IDPs: A small majority of IDPs who have been displaced to Thi-Qar since February 22, 2006 plan on staying in their current location, which implies that humanitarian response to these
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Possibilities of Restoring the Iraqi Marshes Known As the Garden of Eden
    Water and Climate Change in the MENA-Region Adaptation, Mitigation,and Best Practices International Conference April 28-29, 2011 in Berlin, Germany POSSIBILITIES OF RESTORING THE IRAQI MARSHES KNOWN AS THE GARDEN OF EDEN N. Al-Ansari and S. Knutsson Dept. Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, Lulea University, Sweden Abstract The Iraqi marsh lands, which are known as the Garden of Eden, cover an area about 15000- 20000 sq. km in the lower part of the Mesopotamian basin where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flow. The marshes lie on a gently sloping plan which causes the two rivers to meander and split in branches forming the marshes and lakes. The marshes had developed after series of transgression and regression of the Gulf sea water. The marshes lie on the thick fluvial sediments carried by the rivers in the area. The area had played a prominent part in the history of man kind and was inhabited since the dawn of civilization by the Summarian more than 6000 BP. The area was considered among the largest wetlands in the world and the greatest in west Asia where it supports a diverse range of flora and fauna and human population of more than 500000 persons and is a major stopping point for migratory birds. The area was inhabited since the dawn of civilization by the Sumerians about 6000 years BP. It had been estimated that 60% of the fish consumed in Iraq comes from the marshes. In addition oil reserves had been discovered in and near the marshlands. The climate of the area is considered continental to subtropical.
    [Show full text]
  • BASRA : ITS HISTORY, CULTURE and HERITAGE Basra Its History, Culture and Heritage
    BASRA : ITS HISTORY, CULTURE AND HERITAGE CULTURE : ITS HISTORY, BASRA ITS HISTORY, CULTURE AND HERITAGE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE BASRAH MUSEUM, SEPTEMBER 28–29, 2016 Edited by Paul Collins Edited by Paul Collins BASRA ITS HISTORY, CULTURE AND HERITAGE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE BASRAH MUSEUM, SEPTEMBER 28–29, 2016 Edited by Paul Collins © BRITISH INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF IRAQ 2019 ISBN 978-0-903472-36-4 Typeset and printed in the United Kingdom by Henry Ling Limited, at the Dorset Press, Dorchester, DT1 1HD CONTENTS Figures...................................................................................................................................v Contributors ........................................................................................................................vii Introduction ELEANOR ROBSON .......................................................................................................1 The Mesopotamian Marshlands (Al-Ahwār) in the Past and Today FRANCO D’AGOSTINO AND LICIA ROMANO ...................................................................7 From Basra to Cambridge and Back NAWRAST SABAH AND KELCY DAVENPORT ..................................................................13 A Reserve of Freedom: Remarks on the Time Visualisation for the Historical Maps ALEXEI JANKOWSKI ...................................................................................................19 The Pallakottas Canal, the Sealand, and Alexander STEPHANIE
    [Show full text]
  • Abu Tbeirah, Nasiriyah (Southern Iraq)
    ABU TBEIRAH, NASIRIYAH (SOUTHERN IRAQ). PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE 2013 EXCAVATION CAMPAIGN Franco D’Agostino – Licia Romano – Ali Kadhem Ghanim1 (Sapienza Università di Roma- Soprintendenza di Ur-Iraq) ABSTRACT In this paper the results of the third excavation campaign in Fall 2013 at Abu Tbeirah, Nasiriyah (Southern Iraq), a site whose remains can be chronologically ascribed so far to the second half of 3rd Millennium BC, are presented. The archeological activities in the South-Eastern and North-Eastern sectors of the tell are shown, with the aim of shedding a new light on the life of a big Sumerian city located only 16 km East from the great ancient site of Ur. RIASSUNTO In questo lavoro sono presentati i risultati della terza campagna di scavo dell’autunno 2013 ad Abu Tbeirah, Nasiriyah (Iraq meridionale), un sito i cui ritrovamenti possono essere attribuiti cronologicamente alla seconda metà del 3 ° millennio a.C. Sono presentate le attività archeologiche nel settore sud-orientale e nord- orientale del tell, che possono gettare una nuova luce sulla vita di una grande città sumera situata a soli 16 km a est del grande sito di Ur (Tell al-Muqayyar). KEYWORDS Southern Iraq, Southern Mesopotamia, Abu Tbeirah, Early Dynastic, Akkad. PAROLE CHIAVE Iraq meridionale, Mesopotamia meridionale, Abu Tbeirah, Proto-dinastico, Accadico. 0. Foreword Since five years now we are active, with our archaeological mission at Abu Tbeirah, in southern Iraq, in an area that has not seen for many decades archaeological and scientific activities; we proudly recall here that we were the first to come back and resume these activities in the south after the fall of the former regime.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq and the Kurds: Resolving the Kirkuk Crisis
    IRAQ AND THE KURDS: RESOLVING THE KIRKUK CRISIS Middle East Report N°64 – 19 April 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................. i I. INTRODUCTION: GROWING TENSIONS............................................................... 1 II. A TRAINWRECK IN THE MAKING.......................................................................... 2 A. NORMALISATION ...................................................................................................................2 B. THE ARTICLE 140 COMMITTEE ..............................................................................................4 C. THE ILL-CONSIDERED PUSH FOR A REFERENDUM IN 2007.......................................................7 D. FALL-OUT FROM FAILURE......................................................................................................9 III. THE NEED FOR A PROCESS.................................................................................... 11 IV. THE PATH TO A SETTLEMENT ............................................................................. 15 A. THE UNITED STATES AND TURKEY ......................................................................................15 B. OUTLINES OF A GLOBAL SOLUTION......................................................................................17 V. CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................. 19 APPENDICES A. MAP OF IRAQ ......................................................................................................................21
    [Show full text]
  • The Mesopotamian Wetlands
    3 UNEP/DEWA/TR.01-3 The Mesopotamian Marshlands: Demise of an Ecosystem Concerted action by Tigris-Euphrates basin countries is urgently required to protect the last vestige of the Mesopotamian marshlands. Landsat 7 true colour image (Bands 7, 4 and 2) of the remaining northeastern section of Hawr Al Hawizeh/Hawr Al Azim marshes straddling the Iran-Iraq border taken on 14 April 2001. www.unep.org and Assessment Report Warning Early United Nations Environment Programme P.O. Box 30552 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254 2) 621234 Fax: (254 2) 623927 E-mail: [email protected] web: www.unep.org The Mesopotamian Marshlands: Demise of an Ecosystem ‘Ever the river has risen and brought us the flood, the mayfly floating on the water. On the face of the sun its countenance gazes, then all of a sudden nothing is there’. – ‘He who saw the Deep’, (The Epic of Gilgamesh, 1,200 B.C.) UNEP DEWA/GRID-Geneva in cooperation with GRID-Sioux Falls and the Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) This report was prepared by Hassan Partow with overall supervision by Ron Witt, and the valuable support of Gene Fosnight and Ashbindu Singh. Cartographic production was carried out by Dominique Del Pietro. i ISBN: 92-807-2069-4 To obtain copies of this publication, please contact: UNEP/DEWA/GRID – Geneva UNEP/DEWA/GRID – Sioux Falls International Environment House USGS EROS Data Center 11 Chemin des Anémones 47914 252nd Street CH-1219 Châtelaine Sioux Falls, SD 47198-001 USA Geneva, Switzerland Tel: 1-605-594-6117 Fax: 1-605-594-6119 Tel: +41-22 9178294/95 Fax: +41-22 9178029 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] The full report is available online at: http://www.grid.unep.ch/activities/sustainable/tigris/marshlands/ For bibliographic and reference purposes this publication should be cited as: UNEP (2001).
    [Show full text]
  • The Cultural Heritage of Iraq After the 2Nd Gulf War (1)
    The Cultural Heritage of Iraq after the 2nd Gulf War (1) John Curtis (*) Abstract: * British Museum Keeper Curator This paper conducts a review of the situation in which currently Iraq’s archaeological heritage finds itself, following Department Middle East the military intervention carried out by United States and its allies in Iraq, which has had a tremendous impact not [email protected] only on archaeological sites but also on cultural centers and museums Institutions in Baghdad and Mosul. Resumen: En este trabajo se lleva a cabo una revisión de la situación en la que se encuentra actualmente el patrimonio arqueo- lógico iraquí tras la intervención militar llevada a cabo por Estados Unidos y sus aliados en Iraq, que ha afectado de manera importante no sólo a sus yacimientos arqueológicos sino también a los centros culturales y a las instituciones museísticas de Bagdad y Mosul. 75 MARQ. ARQUEOLOGÍA INTRODUCCIÓN Mesopotamia, modern Iraq, has often, quite rightly, been called the cradle of civilization. Here, from about 8000 BC onwards, in the rich alluvial plain created by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, we find evidence for settled communities that are dependent on farming rather than hunting and gathering. After 3000 BC we see the formation of the first cities, the introduction of complex economies, and the invention of writing. In the south part of Mesopotamia, Sumerian civilization flourished in the 3rd millennium BC at cities such as Warka and Ur. In the 2nd millennium BC, the Sumerians were replaced in central Mesopotamia by the Babylonians, whose capital was at Babylon and whose best-known king was Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC), famous for his law code.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment of the Effluents of Basra City Main Water Treatment Plants
    Article Assessment of the Effluents of Basra City Main Water Treatment Plants for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes Suhad Almuktar 1,2,3, Ahmed Naseh Ahmed Hamdan 4 and Miklas Scholz 2,3,5,* 1 Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Basra, Al Basra 61004, Iraq; [email protected] 2 Division of Water Resources Engineering, Department of Building and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden 3 Civil Engineering Research Group, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, The University of Salford, Newton Building, Salford M5 4WT, UK 4 Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Basra, Al Basra 61004, Iraq; [email protected] 5 Department of Civil Engineering Science, School of Civil Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Kingsway Campus, PO Box 524, Aukland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +46-(0)462228920; Fax: +46-(0)462224435 Received: 22 August 2020; Accepted: 25 November 2020; Published: 27 November 2020 Abstract: A severe water scarcity challenge is facing Iraq, which is predominantly due to the absence of water management policies, negatively impacting the water quantity and quality provision from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Moreover, these practices have led to the intrusion of the Arabian Gulf salinity wedge into the Shatt Al-Arab River (SAR), which is the main water source for most water treatment plants (WTPs) in Basra city. In addition, the inadequate management and operation for most WTPs is another reason for the deterioration of water quality provided to Basra province.
    [Show full text]
  • Basra's High Hope: an American Missionary School in Iraq During the World War Era Israa Alhassani James Madison University
    James Madison University JMU Scholarly Commons Masters Theses The Graduate School Spring 2014 Basra's high hope: An American missionary school in Iraq during the World War Era Israa Alhassani James Madison University Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019 Part of the History Commons Recommended Citation Alhassani, Israa, "Basra's high hope: An American missionary school in Iraq during the World War Era" (2014). Masters Theses. 129. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019/129 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the The Graduate School at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Basra’s High Hope: An American Missionary School in Iraq during the World War Era Israa Alhassani A thesis project submitted to the Graduate Faculty of JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the degree of Master of Arts Department of History May 2014 To my father who filled our home with history books. To my mother who taught me the power of words. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My gratitude goes to Dr. T.J Fitzgerald who guided me throughout this process and kept my focus on the main thesis of this study. I am grateful to my respected readers Dr. Owusu-Ansah and Dr. Christian Davis who recognized my contribution, and with their suggestions and criticisms, improved and strengthened my argument. My thanks go to Dr. Michael Galgano for opening a window for me and Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq Governorates and Districts
    102 ANBAR (01) KERBALA (12) SULAYMANIYAH (05) Dahuk 58 Iraq Governorates 02 Abu Ghraib 04 Ain Al-Tamur 65 Chamchamal 96 69 83 13 Falluja 23 Al-Hindiya 68 Darbandihkan Dahuk¥«¬ 94 24 Al-Ka'im 76 Kerbala 70 Dokan 53 05 and Districts 25 Kadhimiya 73 Halabja 98 100 66 45 Ramadi 75 Kalar 89 MISSAN (14) ¥«¬ 48 Al-Rutba 84 Penjwin 93 Mosul 17 Erbi¥«¬l 87 85 59 Ana 07 Amara 85 Pshdar 38 Erbil 72 Haditha 26 Al-Kahla 87 Rania 71 34 Al-Maimouna 80 74 Heet 90 Sharbazher 70 90 08 36 Al-Mejar Al-Kabi 81 84 95 Sulaymaniya 82 Sulaymaniyah 11 BABYLON (06) 57 Ali Al-Gharbi Ninewa Kirkuk ¥«¬ 15 86 Qal'at Saleh 08 79 ¥«¬ 95 05 (BABIL) 20 54 Sulaymaniyah 13 19 Hashimiya Tameem TAMEEM (13) 65 68 73 18 22 Hilla MUTHANNA (03) 21 Al-Hawiga 21 67 31 Al-Mada'in 28 Al-Khidhir 67 Daquq 10 32 Al-Mahawil 47 Al-Rumaitha 75 07 79 Kirkuk 62 99 101 33 Mahmudiya 49 Al-Salman 81 Makhmur 01 12 06 16 40 Al-Musayab 50 Al-Samawa 04 Salah al-Din 78 14 59 11 09 BAGHDAD (07) NAJAF (17) 72 Samarra¥«¬ 17 24 77 02 06 Adhamiya 29 Kufa 88 27 03 35 Al-Manathera 39 01 - Anbar 63 02 - Basrah BASRAH (02) 42 Najaf Ba`aqubah ¥«¬ 03 - Muthanna 01 Abu Al-Khaseeb 74 60 09 Basrah Ramadi 15 Diyala 04 - Qadissiya 10 - Diyala NINEWA (15) 14 Fao ¥«¬ 25 05 - Sulaymaniyah 11 - Erbil 05 Akre 06¥«¬ 64 06 - Babylon 12 - Kerbala 37 Al-Midaina 45 02 Baghdad 08 Al-Ba'aj 07 - Baghdad 13 - Tameen 44 Al-Qurna 31 17 Al-Hamdaniya 33 08 - Dahuk 14 - Missan 56 Al-Zubair 13 20 Hatra 61 09 - Thi-Qar 15 - Ninewa 91 Shatt Al-Arab 55 38 Mosul 40 32 16 - Wassit 53 Al-Shikhan Anbar Kerbala ¥«¬ Babylon Wass¥«¬it 17 - Najaf
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq – Nasiriyah – Returnees – Security Situation – Insurgents – Citizenship – Property – Polygamy
    Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: IRQ17405 Country: Iraq Date: 28 June 2005 Keywords: Iraq – Nasiriyah – Returnees – Security situation – Insurgents – Citizenship – Property – Polygamy This response was prepared by the Country Research Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Questions 1. What is the racial, tribal and religious demography of Nasiriyah? 2. How are returnees from the West, particularly in Nasiriyah, treated? Are they viewed as collaborators or targeted for their wealth? 3. How are returnees from Iran treated, with particular reference to Nasiriyah? 4. What is the process for returnees regaining their citizenship? 5. What is the process for returnees regaining their property? 6. What is the current security situation in Nasiriyah with particular reference to extremists such as Zarqawi? 7. Who are the insurgents targeting? 8. Please provide information on the extent of polygamous marriages amongst Shias in Iraq and Iraqi communities in Iran. 9. Please provide information on Abdul Hassan Al Draib, a senior member of the Baath party. RESPONSE 1. What is the racial, tribal and religious demography of Nasiriyah? Nasiriyah (also known as Nasiriyyah, Nasiriyya, Nassiriyyah, Nassiriyya, Nassiriyah, Nassiriya, Nasiriya, Nasseriya, Nasiriah, Nasariyah and Nasariya) is the capital city of Dhi Qar (also known as Thi Qar and Theqar) province. Both are marked on the attached map (US Central Intelligence Agency 2004, ‘Iraq Political Map’, Perry-Castañeda Library, University of Texas website http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_pol_2004.pdf – Accessed 6 June 2005 – Attachment 1).
    [Show full text]
  • Backgrounder #27 Recent Operations Against Special Groups and JAM in Central and Southern Iraq Farook Ahmed and Marisa Cochrane
    Backgrounder #27 Recent Operations against Special Groups and JAM in Central and Southern Iraq Farook Ahmed and Marisa Cochrane, Researchers, Institute for the Study of War Introduction On Tuesday March 25, 2008, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) launched a security offensive to restore stability and law in Basra province by wresting control of the city from illegal Shi’a militias and criminal groups. Basra had become a haven for militia and criminal activity, especially in the wake of the British withdrawal from the city center in December 2007. Rival Shi’a militias, including Muqtada al-Sadr’s Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM) militia, have since been engaged in a violent and protracted power struggle;1 and drugs, weapons, and oil smuggling rings have also thrived. While the Iraqi Security Forces had been planning a multi-phased operation in Basra, for reasons not yet known, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki launched the offensive much earlier than many Coalition and Iraqi commanders had expected and before many of the ISF reinforcements had even arrived.2 In the days that followed, as Iraqi Army and Police units sought to oust Jaysh al-Mahdi militias from many of their strongholds in Basra, gunfights and violent clashes broke out across the city. At that time, it became clear that the Mahdi Army—with the help of Iranian-trained, funded, and armed cells known as Special Groups—was deeply entrenched in many neighborhoods of Basra.3 The Iraqi Security Forces faced much tougher resistance than Maliki had expected. As clashes between JAM gunmen and government forces continued, Iraqi reinforcements, Coalition air assets, and even U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • The US Army and the Battle for Baghdad: Lessons Learned
    C O R P O R A T I O N The U.S. Army and the Battle for Baghdad Lessons Learned—And Still to Be Learned David E. Johnson, Agnes Gereben Schaefer, Brenna Allen, Raphael S. Cohen, Gian Gentile, James Hoobler, Michael Schwille, Jerry M. Sollinger, Sean M. Zeigler For more information on this publication, visit www.rand.org/t/RR3076 Library of Congress Control Number: 2019940985 ISBN: 978-0-8330-9601-2 Published by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. © Copyright 2019 RAND Corporation R® is a registered trademark. Limited Print and Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited. Permission is given to duplicate this document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions. The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. Support RAND Make a tax-deductible charitable contribution at www.rand.org/giving/contribute www.rand.org Preface This report documents research and analysis conducted as part of a project entitled Lessons Learned from 13 Years of Conflict: The Battle for Baghdad, 2003–2008, spon- sored by the Office of Quadrennial Defense Review, U.S.
    [Show full text]