Highlights Situation Overview
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Iraq: Humanitarian Crisis Situation Report No. 59 (26 August – 1 September 2015) This report is produced by OCHA Iraq in collaboration with humanitarian partners. Due to the dynamic situation, it is possible that the numbers and locations listed in this report may no longer be accurate. The next report will be issued on or around 11 September. Highlights IDPs in Kirkuk Governorate fear forced return to Diyala Governorate following Government announcement More than 71,000 IDPs return to Diyala in August despite ongoing insecurity; interagency mission to assess returnee needs on the ground Peshmerga advances result in close to 10,000 new IDPs in southwest Kirkuk Inter-cluster mission to Debaga undertaken; livelihood support and provision of services recommended Reference map. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the UN. 8.6 m 5.6 m 3.2 m 2.9 m 3.2 m 0.25 m people in need targeted for internally displaced displaced people affected people in Syrian refugees assistance people live outside camps host communities Situation Overview Pressure is increasing on internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kirkuk Governorate to return to their places of origin,particularly Diyala Governorate. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), Kirkuk currently hosts 410,754 IDPs, or the fourth largest IDP population in the country after Anbar, Baghdad, and Dahuk governorates. This accounts for 13 per cent of Iraq’s 3.2 million displaced. Of the IDPs in Kirkuk, 142,740 individuals originate from Salah al-Din (35 per cent), followed by Anbar (126,396 IDPs/31 per cent), Kirkuk (80,238 IDPs/20 per cent), Ninewa (35,196 IDPs/9 per cent), as well as Diyala, Baghdad and Babylon governorates (combined total of 26,184 IDPs/6 per cent). Approximately half the population displaced to Kirkuk have been displaced for more than a year. Over half of the IDP population (60 per cent) live in rented accommodation, while 15 per cent live in critical shelter arrangements, 9 per cent live with host families, and just 3 per cent live in the Laylan and Yahywa IDP camps in Daquq District. A third camp is now under construction in the same district. On 23 August, the Kirkuk Provincial Council announced that all IDPs from Diyala should leave Kirkuk Governorate within one month. If implemented, the decision would affect tens of thousands of individuals registered with the + For more information, see “background on the crisis” at the end of the report www.unocha.org The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Coordination Saves Lives Iraq IDP Crisis Situation Report No. 59 | 2 Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) as originating from Diyala Governorate. However, as many IDPs are unregistered, the figure is likely to be much higher. Between 5 and 28 August, IOM DTM identified 71,184 individuals as having returned to Diyala Governorate. Of these, some are believed to be enforced returns. Over half have returned to Khalis District and 40 per cent to Muqdadiya District, with the remaining to Khanaqin and Kifri Districts. Most of the returnees have been displaced to other locations within Diyala, as well as to Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk governorates. Returns have taken place despite ongoing reports of insecurity in Ba’quba city in Diyala Governorate, which is linked to sectarian tensions. The returning families have been screened by security personnel prior to return. There are current allegations that families from villages that have been under government control for months in Diyala Governorate are being prevented from returning. This is due to a variety of reasons including security, sectarian affiliation, and prolonged return procedures. There are also reports that returnees have had their movements restricted and have not been allowed to choose their residences freely. An interagency mission to Khalis and Muqdadiya districts in Diyala Governorate is planned for 10 September to assess the situation of returnees and to gain a broader understanding of their needs. Further displacement in Kirkuk Governorate has been reported as conflict in the southwest of the governorate continues. Between 24 August and 1 September, 1,615 families or 9,690 individuals, were displaced from their villages surrounding Daquq and Hawiga District, following Kurdish Peshmerga advances and the reclaiming of villages under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). According to initial information, the families of Tal-Bisal, Tamoor, Sumaq, Al-Bu-Mohammed, Yarqoon, and Banshakh were displaced by the Peshmerga forces in the process of establishing the new security line. 37 per cent of displaced families moved to Daquq, while 63 per cent travelled to Kirkuk City where they are currently staying with relatives. Updated information on conditions inside Heet District in Anbar Governorate was received on 31 August. Local sources indicated that approximately 50 per cent of the original population remains in the district, or between 35,000 and 40,000 people. Heet also hosts an additional 50,000 IDPs, who displaced from Tikrit District in Salah al-Din Governorate; Falluja District in Anbar Governorate; and Ninewa Governorate. Supplies and commercial goods are reaching Heet from Syria via the al-Qaim border crossing. However, conditions are reportedly deteriorating rapidly since the payment of salaries of governmental employees stopped in June. Water is limited and electricity is only provided by private generators. The main hospital continues to operate, although stocks of medicines and basic supplies are reportedly insufficient. An inter-cluster mission to the village of Debaga in Erbil Governorate was undertaken on 26 August where approximately 800 IDP families are now living. The purpose of the visit was to review the ongoing humanitarian response and completion of a new camp funded by the Emirates Red Crescent at the site. Initial findings indicate that most IDPs wished to relocate to the new camp, but had received no information about the relocation plan. Recommendations include cluster support for camp management, the provision of services such as WASH and garbage collection, as well as improved access to livelihood activities and assurances of IDP freedom of movement. Humanitarian Response Protection Needs: The Bzeibiz Bridge between Anbar and Baghdad governorates remains officially closed to IDPs wishing to enter Baghdad with a few exceptions, such as medical cases. 60 families remain at the checkpoint unable to cross. Some 800 families displaced from villages inside Daquq District, Kirkuk Governorate are reportedly gathering at Daquq checkpoint, or in Daquq City, following military operations and are awaiting approval and security screening to enter Kirkuk District. As with the Anbar IDPs, access to safety is a primary concern for this group. Most of those fleeing are vulnerable families, with an average of 15 to 30 individuals crossing per day. In Dahuk Governorate, where child marriage remains a prominent issue, there is a need for continuous psychosocial services to enhance resilience for survivors of sexual and other forms of gender-based violence (SGBV). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org Iraq IDP Crisis Situation Report No. 59 | 3 Response: Protection monitors in the central governorates of the country conducted 40 community-level assessments to identify the needs of displaced families and 1,052 household-level protection assessments (excluding Baghdad). They provided legal assistance for 200 cases, legal counselling for 286 individuals in the central governorates (excluding Baghdad), as well as identified and referred 592 families for cash assistance. A protection team met with the Director of Kerbala Governorate’s Department of Labor and Social Affairs (DOLSA) to discuss the prevalence of child laborers working in the streets and the vulnerable conditions of their families. This led to approval of cash assistance to some of the families by the department. A protection team met with the Labor and Social Affairs Department’s Chief of Examinations in Najaf Governorate to ensure that unregistered IDP students were allowed to sit for their final exams. An Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programme is rolling out the last in a series of three- day Housing, Land and Property (HLP) trainings with humanitarian shelter and protection cluster actors in Kerbala, Dahuk, Erbil, Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah and Baghdad governorates. The trainings covered the international and domestic legal frameworks governing HLP, HLP and durable solutions, as well as practical tools for ensuring security of tenure in humanitarian shelter and protection activities. ICLA has also instituted an eviction hotline and response program in Dahuk, Erbil and Baghdad. 4,596 dignity kits with sanitary pads, body soap, dresses and pajamas were distributed to displaced women and girls in Erbil Governorate. In Dahuk Governorate, 104 families were visited by mobile child protection units. Four new cases in need of specialized child protection services were identified and provided with case management services. 136 girls and 159 boys were provided with specialized psychosocial support services in Basrah Governorate. Gaps and constraints: In Erbil Governorate, the quality of shelter services continues to be a gap for SGBV survivors who need life- saving protection and health services. There are gaps in the timely planning of GBV response and prevention programs in newly established camps in Sulaymaniyah governorate such as Barznja and Ashti, as well as Surdash IDP camp which is now under construction. This has created a lack of coverage in some areas, while with a duplication of activities in other areas. Most IDPs fleeing into Kirkuk Governorate enter through a check point south of Daquq. Access to the checkpoint for humanitarian actors, including child protection, is restricted, however.