IOM EMERGENCY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS POST FEBRUARY 2006 DISPLACEMENT IN IRAQ 1 DECEMBER 2007 BI-WEEKLY REPORT The bombing of the Al-Askari shrine in Samarra on 22 February 2006 and the subsequent spike in violence and displacement brought to light the need to assess the conditions of these newly- displaced populations. Therefore, the Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) and several organizations (such as IOM) have been registering and/or monitoring Iraqis who have been displaced since February 2006. The estimated number of displaced since 22 February 2006 is almost 1,200,000 individuals 1. This figure, combined with the 1.2 million individuals 2 who were internally displaced before 22 February, results in an estimated 2.4 million IDPs in Iraq to date. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY ON IRAQI DISPLACEMENT: Many families continue to return home, both from neighbouring countries, especially Syria, and from within Iraq. Reasons for returning are in part due to improved security conditions, especially in Baghdad, the place of origin for 70% of IDPs assessed by IOM. Iraqis are also returning due to deteriorating conditions in their place of displacement – lack of income, illegal status, rising cost of living, tensions with host communities, and lack of access to health care and education.3 The Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) reports that around 3,500 IDP returnee families have completed registration for the one million Iraqi dinar returnee stipend, and another 6,000 families are undergoing the registration process. 4 Many more returned last week from Damascus in bus transportation provided by the Government of Iraq. However, many return to internal displacement, as they cannot return to their homes due to occupation or their homes like in areas that have not become homogenized by the other sect. As mentioned in the last IOM report, displacement still continues, although much reduced, and many Iraqis do not feel that their safety is guaranteed to the point that they feel comfortable enough to return. In coordination with the UN Country Team and MoDM, IOM will be assessing the needs of these returnees and providing assistance where appropriate. IOM will continue to focus on those Iraqis who remain displaced throughout the country and who suffer from lack of access to basic services and PDS food rations, poor housing conditions, unemployment, and other conditions that make them especially vulnerable. MoDM is in the process of proving a stipend to registered IDPs of 150,000 Iraqi dinars per month for six months. Within the last two weeks, IDPs have received the first monthly amount in Basrah, Thi-Qar, Wassit, Muthanna, Najaf, Qadissiya, Missan, Babylon, Ninewa, and Salah al- Din. In Diyala, only IDPs in Khanaqin have received the monthly amount. Distribution for Kirkuk should take place this week. The Department of Displacement and Migration (DDM) in the three northern governorates is working with MoDM to provide the displaced with the same IDP stipend. Therefore, new registration procedures have been put in place. IDPs must first visit the local security office, then go to DDM for an appointment for an interview, and then return to DDM with all members of the IDP family for the interview. Since there is no DDM office in Sulaymaniyah or Dahuk, the governor’s office in each governorate requested that the security office register IDPs. 1 See Cluster F Update, 21 November 2007. Post-February data based on figures gathered from IOM for Anbar, from KRG for the three northern governorates, and from MoDM for the remaining 14 governorates. 2 As per IOM monitoring for the 15 central and southern governorates and UNOPS/UNHCR for the three northern governorates. See Cluster F Update, 21 November 2007. 3 For more information, see Cluster F Update, 21 November 2007. 4 See MoDM’s November 2007 report Summary Results IDP Registration – February 2006 to November 2007 . International organization for migration The onset of winter is placing an increased burden on families with regards to obtaining kerosene for heating and cooking, and fuel prices are rising. Some IDPs are able to receive fuel rations through fuel ration cards. More IDP eviction and protection cases have been reported over the past two weeks, specifically in Najaf, Diyala, and Kirkuk. Country-wide Statistics: IDP Places of Origin: Anbar 4.77% Muthanna 0.01% Babylon 0.95% Ninewa 2.91% Baghdad 66.08% Qadissiya 0.04% Basrah 1.99% Salah al-Din 3.34% Diyala 18.22% Kirkuk 1.31% Erbil 0.01% Thi-Qar 0.07% Kerbala 0.01% Wassit 0.27% Religion : Shia Muslim 63.17% Yazidi 0.07% Sunni Muslim 31.32% Unknown 0.02% Christian 5.39% Sabean Mandean 0.01% Ethnicity: Arab 90.36% Chaldean 1.40% Assyrian 3.77% Armenian 0.13% Kurd 2.57% Other 0.10% Turkmen 1.68% Living arrangements: Rented housing 58.24% No Answer 0.92% In the house of host 17.47% Tent in camp 0.77% family or relatives Other 9.25% Tent near house of 0.41% host Public building 6.99% Former military camp 0.32% Collective town 6.53% settlement Intentions : Return to their place 59.00% Resettle in a third 16.99% of origin location Locally integrate in 22.41% Waiting on one or 1.60% the current location several factors to make a decision Top priority needs: Shelter 71.99% Legal Help 18.74% Food 70.94% Health 12.20% Access to work 63.22% Sanitation 6.52% Other 26.25% Education 5.72% Water 21.41% Hygiene 2.23% Anbar: While security has improved throughout the governorate, the security situation is still unstable in International Organization for Migration 2 Amirya due to attacks against tribal leaders. Karma is experiencing tribal tension due to competition to control the district. There are still some security problems in Rutba where the Anbar Rescue Council (ARC, “Awakening Council”) is pursuing insurgents. Regarding the rest of the cities, the situation has improved and some construction and rehabilitation activities have started to take place. The ARC controls most areas in Anbar, while the Islamic party has influence in cities such as Ana. Freedom of movement is still heavily limited in Anbar, which affects monitoring movements. Widespread roadblocks require monitors to travel to many locations on foot. Due to the security situation stability, some IDPs originating from Anbar (displaced within the governorate) and Baghdad have started to return home. Many of the returning Baghdad families are finding their houses destroyed and their furniture stolen and have lost access to their livelihood/employment. Generally, the majority of the hospitals and clinics in Anbar are functioning. The major weakness of the health sector in Anbar is not absence or poor condition of facilities, but the shortage of medicines, medical equipment and medical personnel. Patients are forced to buy the medicines from the black market while those in need of surgery travel to other governorates, especially Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniya. The local health authorities in Fallujah have started to construct a new clinic unit for the special need and disabled cases. Local authorities are rehabilitating water networks in some areas of Anbar, such as the Jubeil and Shuhada areas in Fallujah. The water network pipeline of Ukashat has been rehabilitated. Assessment based on 10,188 families. Places of Origin: Anbar 31.08% Baghdad 64.15% Babylon 0.08% Basrah 4.69% Religion : Sunni Muslim 100.00% Ethnicity: Arab 100.00% Living arrangements: Collective town 12.25% Public building 6.05% settlement Former military camp 0.86% Rented housing 49.33% In the house of host 27.32% Tent near house of 0.97% family or relatives host Other 3.21% Intentions : Locally integrate in 0.98% Return to their place 85.90% the current location of origin Resettle in a third 11.99% Waiting on one or 1.13% location several factors to make a decision Top priority needs: Food 88.42% Access to work 25.34% International Organization for Migration 3 Water 74.51% Health 11.85% Shelter 55.84% Other 8.56% Education 28.57% Hygiene 7.09% IOM emergency distribution assistance in 2007 : IOM completed various distributions of food, water and non-food items for 961 IDP families (February), 392 families (March), and 542 families over the summer. IOM is currently distributing food and non-food items to 1344 IDP families. IOM will start water trucking in December in areas lacking potable water. Babylon : Security in Babylon continues to be relatively stable except in Al-Musayeb and Al-Mahaweel districts. Recently, some IDP families in Al-Askandariya sub-district were displaced again within the governorate due to insecurity. Insecurity in Jurf Al Sakher is preventing IDPs from moving freely, including reaching the nearest health clinic. Numerous families interviewed are not receiving their PDS food rations, either because rations are not available or they do not want to transfer their ration card because they hope to return to their place of origin. Some IDPs are selling their possessions in order to afford food. A high number of IDP orphans (27) have been identified in Al Askandariya in Al Askan sub-district. Seven very poor IDP families living on government property near Al Murtadha neighbourhood (long. 28-009 and lat. 24-810) received an official warning that they must evacuate within a month because a governmental project will be constructed in their location. Assessment based on 9,168 families. Places of Origin: Anbar 1.97% Ninewa 0.15% Babylon 4.18% Qadissiya 0.01% Baghdad 83.31% Salah al-Din 2.23% Diyala 6.25% Kirkuk 0.71% Kerbala 0.03% Wassit 1.16% Religion : Shia Muslim 96.05% Sunni Muslim 3.87% Yazidi 0.08%