DAHUK, ERBIL& SULAYMANIYAH GOVERNORATE PROFILES POST-FEBRUARY 2006 IDP NEEDS ASSESSMENTS DECEMBER 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section: Page: I. IOM Assessment Background 1 II. Overview 2 1. Area Background Dahuk il rb 2. Restrictions on IDP Entry or Registration E S u la a y 3. Ethnicity and Religion ew m in a N n iy 4. Places of origin a h 5. Reasons for displacement Kirkuk 6. Pre-2006 IDP population Sa la 7. IDP relations w/ host community h al -D D i i n y 8. IDP Intentions a III. Emergency Assessment and Needs 6 la 1. Security 6 Baghdad W i. Security Kerbala assit Babylon Q ii. Vulnerabilities ad Anbar is si iii. Women and Children ya 2. Shelter and Basic Services 7 Missan Thi-Qar i. Shelter (living arrangements) Najaf ii. Food/PDS Basrah iii. Water and Sanitation Muthanna iv. Fuel and Electricity v. Health Care vi. Education 3. Legal 11 i. Property Issues ii. Documentation IV. Humanitarian Assistance Received 12 V. Priority Needs 12 1. Top Priority Needs 2. JOC Projects VI. Conclusion 14 I. POST-FEBRUARY 2006 IDP ASSESSMENTS: BACKGROUND Following the 22 February 2006 bombing of the Samarra Al-Askari Mosque, sectarian violence led to an alarming increase in population displacement within Iraq. In coordination with the Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) and other entities, IOM is conducting in-depth assessments on recently displaced persons throughout Iraq. IOM monitors use IDP Rapid Assessment questionnaires to gather information from MoDM, IDP tribal and community leaders, local NGOs, local government bodies, and individual IDP families. Based on a database of this information, IOM disseminates bi-weekly, bi-annual, and annual reports containing updates, statistics, and 1 analysis on displacement. These assist IOM and other organizations in prioritizing areas of operation, planning emergency responses, and designing long-term, durable solutions programs. As of the time of writing, there are an estimated 1.2 million 2 Iraqis internally displaced since February 2006. While the rate of displacement has decreased considerably towards the end of 2007 and some IDPs are beginning to return, the number of displaced is still significant and far exceeds the number who have returned. This is one of six Iraq Governorate Profile reports released by IOM at the close of 2007. These reports profile the displacement situation in each Iraqi governorate, using statistics and reporting from the field. 1 IOM reports are available at http://www.iom-iraq.net/idp.html . 2 Based on information provided by MoDM and the Kurdistan Regional Government. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION II. OVERVIEW Dahuk Erbil Sulaymaniyah Capital Dahuk Erbil Sulaymaniyah Chamchamal, Darbandihkan, Choman, Erbil, Koisnjaq, Dokan, Halabja, Kalar, Districts Amedi, Dahuk, Sumel, Zakho Makhmur, Mergasur, Penjwin, Pshdar, Rania, Shaqlawa, Soran Sharbazher, Sulaymaniya Population 3 942,268 1,392,093 1,715,585 4 9,617 families (est. 55,151 6,104 families (est. 34,717 13,165 families (est. 73,534 Total post-Feb 2006 IDPs individuals) individuals) individuals) 5 22,474 families (est. 134,844 32,813 families (est. 196,878 50,465 families (est. 302,790 Total pre-Feb 2006 IDPs individuals) individuals) individuals) Number of post-Feb 2006 1,453 families (est. 8,718 1,669 families (est. 10,014 2,965 families (est. 17,790 IDPs assessed by IOM 6 individuals) individuals) individuals) 1. Area Background The northern governorates of Dahuk, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah comprise the most stable area in Iraq and operate in a de facto autonomy under the authority of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). However, the area is not immune to instability and violence. The areas along the border with Iran and Turkey experience intermittent shelling and attacks, which have displaced hundreds of families this year. In May, a truck bombing in Erbil that killed or wounded over 100 people also demonstrated that the north is a target for insurgent attacks. However, the north’s relative stability makes it a destination for IDPs of all ethnicities and religions fleeing from the south and center. But increased restrictions of entry into the north make movement difficult. KRG authorities are wary of the demographic changes displacement may cause and are conscious of the heavy burden IDP influx is placing on the area’s limited resources and infrastructure. The area’s relative stability has attracted a large international presence, with many humanitarian organizations basing their Iraq operations in Erbil city. Dahuk lies at the very northern tip of Iraq, bordered by Turkey. It has the fewest number of post- 2006 IDPs of the three governorates and a large number of pre-2006 IDPs. Erbil hosts Erbil city, the capital of the Kurdistan region and believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and a major stop on the Silk Road. Sulaymaniyah, in the northeast corner of Iraq and bordered by Iran, hosts the most IDP population for both pre- and post-2006 IDPs of the northern governorates and the largest number of pre-2006 IDPs of any governorate in Iraq. It is an important economic center for Iraq and has strong economic ties with Iran. 2. Restrictions on IDP Entry or Registration IDPs who do not originate from Dahuk, Erbil, or Sulaymaniyah must be “sponsored” in order to enter. Occasionally IDPs may be turned away from border checkpoints if they do not have adequate identification or are suspected of being insurgents. At some checkpoints, such as those entering Dahuk, IDPs are not allowed to enter with furniture. Once entered, IDPs must obtain residency cards ( karti manawa ) in order to remain in the governorates. 3 As per the Iraq Living Conditions Survey, UNDP and Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation, 2004. 4 As per the Kurdistan Regional Government. See latest Cluster F Update on IDPs, 21 November 2007. 5 As per UNOPs/UNHCR. See latest Cluster F Update on IDPs, 21 November 2007. 6 Please note that this is the number of post-February 2006 IDPs assessed by IOM, not the total number of IDPs in the governorate. 2 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION 3. Ethnicity and Religion Compared to the rest of the country, a large number of Chaldean and Assyrian Christians, as well as Kurdish Sunnis, have fled to the north. RELIGION & ETHNICITY 7 Dahuk Erbil Sulaymaniyah Area All Iraq Sunni Arab 1.31% 7.01% 58.38% 30.67% 28.80% Christian Chaldean 35.17% 59.62% 0.07% 24.77% 1.39% Sunni Kurd 25.26% 4.55% 26.98% 20.42% 1.66% Christian Assyrian 27.87% 13.42% 0.03% 10.35% 3.75% Shia Arab 1.17% 2.58% 10.66% 6.18% 61.39% Christian Armenian 5.99% 2.76% 2.18% 0.13% Shia Kurd 0.14% 3.31% 1.64% 0.86% Yazidi Kurd 1.45% 0.12% 0.10% 0.43% 0.02% Other 1.04% 0.66% 0.44% 0.65% 1.85% Dahuk il rb 4. Places of Origin E S 36.61% u la a y ew m For both Dahuk and Erbil, the largest percentage of in a N n 1.10% iy a IDPs comes from Baghdad (61% and 71%, Kirkuk h respectively) and Ninewa (37% and 24%). In 0.14% Sulaymaniyah, the largest percentage comes from S al ah a Diyala (64%) with the next highest percentage l- Di D n iy 0.07% a coming from Baghdad (28%). la 60.56% Baghdad Dahuk 0.48% il Kerbala rb Wa E Babylon ssit 0.18% 0.07% Q S ad 23.61% u Anbar is l s a iy a y a ew m in a N n Missan iy a h Kirkuk Thi-Qar Najaf 3 .2 4 0.96% 0.06% % Basrah Sa la Muthanna h al -D D in i y 0.54% a la 70.94% Baghdad 0.66% Kerbala W Babylon assit Q 0.06% a di Anbar ss iy Dahuk a il b r Missan E S Thi-Qar 1.79% u Najaf la a y ew m 0.18% in a N n 0.13% iy Basrah 0.30% a h Muthanna Kirkuk 1.08% S al ah a l- Di D n iy a 63.64% la 28.30% Baghdad 4.01% Kerbala W Babylon assit 0.07% 0.13% Q 0.03% ad Anbar is si ya Missan Thi-Qar Najaf 0.10% 0.24% Basrah 7 Of those assessed. Muthanna 3 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION 5. Reasons for Displacement Most IDPs assessed in the reporting area said that they fled due to generalized violence (86%) and fear (93%). Many also cited direct threats to life (47%) and armed conflict (33%): REASONS FOR DISPLACEMENT Dahuk Erbil Sulaymaniyah Area All Iraq Armed Conflict 14.0% 0.8% 60.1% 32.8% 10.3% Direct threats of life 71.8% 18.9% 49.6% 46.5% 62.4% Forced Displacement From Property 14.8% 0.0% 2.7% 4.9% 25.3% Generalized violence 83.8% 77.1% 91.2% 85.6% 47.0% Left out of fear 87.7% 94.8% 95.2% 93.3% 39.2% Other 0.3% 0.0% 6.4% 3.2% 1.1% When asked if they had felt specifically targeted and if so, why, the majority (81%) of IDPs assessed in the area said that they were targeted for their religious/sectarian identity: REASONS FOR BEING TARGETED Dahuk Erbil Sulaymaniyah Area All Iraq Belonging to a certain ethnic group 11.5% 1.1% 13.8% 9.8% 3.1% Belonging to a certain religion or sect 61.7% 92.6% 84.4% 81.2% 86.4% Belonging to a certain social group 12.3% 4.6% 2.8% 5.5% 1.1% Do not think the group was targeted 15.8% 3.2% 14.0% 11.5% 11.3% Holding a certain political opinion 22.2% 0.1% 9.2% 9.8% 6.1% Of IDPs assessed in the reporting area, 93.4% had been displaced once, 4.2% had been displaced twice, 1.3% had been displaced three times, and less than 1% had been displaced four or more times.