1/2016 The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) Access, Possibility of Protection, Security and Humanitarian Situation Report from fact finding mission to Erbil, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and Beirut, Lebanon 26 September to 6 October 2015 Copenhagen, April 2016 Danish Immigration Service Ryesgade 53 2100 Copenhagen Ø Phone: 00 45 35 36 66 00 Web: www.newtodenmark.dk E-mail: [email protected] Content DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................ 6 ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 1. OUTLINE OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ...................10 1.1 WAVES OF IDPS ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 1.2 SCARCITY OF RESOURCES AND PRESSURE ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE ........................................................................................ 11 1.3 DISPUTED TERRITORIES IN NORTHERN IRAQ ...................................................................................................................... 12 1.4 INTERNAL POLITICAL SPLIT IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ............................................................................................. 12 2. ACCESS TO THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ AND OTHER KURDISH CONTROLLED AREAS....................................14 2.1 SPONSORSHIP AS A REQUIREMENT FOR ACCESS TO THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ ................................................................ 14 2.2 CONDITIONS AT THE LAND BORDER ................................................................................................................................. 18 2.3 ACCESS THROUGH AIRPORTS .......................................................................................................................................... 19 2.4 POSSIBILITY FOR IRAQI NON-KURDS FROM OUTSIDE OF IRAQ TO SETTLE IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ ................................. 20 2.5 ACCESS TO THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ FOR KURDS FROM KIRKUK ................................................................................. 21 2.6 FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT INSIDE THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ AND OTHER KURDISH CONTROLLED AREAS ............................... 21 2.7 REISSUANCE OF LOST CIVIL DOCUMENTS ........................................................................................................................... 25 2.8 DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT WITH REGARD TO ACCESS TO THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ ......................................................... 26 3. THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ AND OTHER KURDISH CONTROLLED AREAS ........28 3.1 THE SECURITY SITUATION FOR IDPS IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ ................................................................................ 28 3.2 THE SECURITY SITUATION IN KIRKUK ................................................................................................................................ 29 3.3 THE SECURITY SITUATION IN OTHER KURDISH CONTROLLED AREAS ......................................................................................... 29 3.4 FORCED RETURNS AND RELOCATIONS OF IDPS INTO CAMPS ................................................................................................. 31 3.5 EXPOSURE TO ARBITRARY PHYSICAL DANGER IN KURDISH CONTROLLED AREAS.......................................................................... 32 3.6 PRESENCE AND ACTIVITIES OF ISLAMIC STATE IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ AND OTHER KURDISH CONTROLLED AREAS ........... 34 3.7 PRESENCE AND ACTIVITIES OF SHIA MILITIAS IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ AND OTHER KURDISH CONTROLLED AREAS ............. 36 3.8 THE KURDISH SECURITY APPARATUS ................................................................................................................................ 38 3.9 TENSIONS AND COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMED GROUPS .................................................................................................... 42 3.10 GENERAL SECURITY IN IDP CAMPS IN KURDISH CONTROLLED AREAS..................................................................................... 43 4. EFFECTIVENESS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ AND THE KURDISH CONTROLLED AREAS ........................................................................................................................................................................45 4.1. GENERAL POSSIBILITY TO SEEK PROTECTION FROM KURDISH AUTHORITIES .............................................................................. 45 4.2. GENERAL POSSIBILITY TO SEEK PROTECTION FROM OTHER ACTORS THAN THE AUTHORITIES ........................................................ 46 4.3 PROTECTION OF WOMEN IN CASES OF HONOUR CRIMES ...................................................................................................... 46 4.4 PROTECTION IN CASES OF LANDOWNERSHIP CONFLICTS ....................................................................................................... 48 4.5 PROTECTION FROM KURDISH AUTHORITIES IN CASES OF CONFLICTS WITH ARMED GROUPS ......................................................... 50 4.6 PROTECTION IN CASE OF HARASSMENT BASED ON ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION .............................................................. 50 5. ACCESS TO BASIC RIGHTS .......................................................................................................................................52 5.1 ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 52 5.2 POSSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR IDPS ................................................................................................................. 53 2 5.3 ACCESS TO HOUSING .................................................................................................................................................... 54 5.4 IDPS LIVING IN CAMPS ................................................................................................................................................. 56 5.5 ACCESS TO FOOD, WATER AND ELECTRICITY ...................................................................................................................... 58 5.6 ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE ............................................................................................................................................... 59 5.7 ACCESS TO EDUCATION ................................................................................................................................................. 60 5.8 VULNERABLE GROUPS .................................................................................................................................................. 61 CONSULTED SOURCES ................................................................................................................................................64 WRITTEN SOURCES ....................................................................................................................................................65 APPENDIX 1: TERMS OF REFERENCE ..........................................................................................................................67 APPENDIX 2: MEETING NOTES ...................................................................................................................................69 AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCHER ................................................................................................................................69 AN INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATION, KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ ..............................................80 AN INTERNATIONAL NGO ..........................................................................................................................................87 A LAWYER WORKING FOR AN INTERNATIONAL NGO IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ ......................................92 SKYPE MEETING WITH A SCHOLAR SPECIALIZED IN KURDISH ISSUES .........................................................................98 A WESTERN DIPLOMAT ............................................................................................................................................ 101 ERBIL GOVERNORATE, ERBIL REFUGEE COUNCIL (ERC), VIAN RASHEED YOUNIS, DIRECTOR, EXPERT CIVIL ENGINEER AND PETER JOSHI, SENIOR HUMANITARIAN ADVISOR (SECONDEE) ......................................................................... 108 HEAD OF THE GENERAL SECURITY DIRECTORATE, ASAYISH, ESMAT ARGUSHI ......................................................... 117 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, CHRISTOPH WILCKE, SENIOR RESEARCHER ...................................................................... 119 IOM, DAIHEI MOCHIZUKI, PROGRAM MANAGER; ZAHRAA SABER, OPERATION OFFICER ERBIL HUB AND WRIA RASHID, HEAD OF ANKAWA OFFICE ......................................................................................................................... 131 INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, ALEKSANDAR MILUTINOVIC, COUNTRY DIRECTOR ....................................