Internally Displaced Iraqis and Returnees Continue to Face Hardship
Whilst improved security over the first six months of 2008 has
slowed the rate of displacement down to a trickle and encouraged
some limited returns, 2.8 million internally displaced Iraqis
continue to face dire living conditions with mediocre access to
shelter, food, health care, water, and other basic services.
According to IOM's Mid-Year Displacement and Return Review
published today, Iraq's Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and
returnees still suffer from inadequate shelter, insufficient access
to potable water, food and other basic services such as health
care, education and electricity.
A majority of displaced Iraqis (63 per cent) who cannot depend
on relatives are confronted with spiralling rent prices, whilst
others shelter in mud huts or are forced to squat in public
buildings in the constant fear of being
evicted.
When asked about their return intentions, 61 per cent of IDPs
assessed by IOM monitors said they wished to return to their place
of origin, while 21 per cent said they intended to integrate
locally, and 17 per cent planned to resettle in a third
location.
However, the report notes that 26 per cent of the displaced said
their property is currently occupied, controlled or claimed by
other private citizens and 15 per cent that it had been partially
or completely destroyed.
Access to food remains problematic with only 29 per cent of IDPs
having regular access to the Government's food rations, 49 per cent
intermittent access and 21 per cent no access whatsoever.
However, 41 per cent said they received food assistance, mostly
from humanitarian organizations or religious charities.
Substandard living conditions, the stress of long periods of
displacement, financial difficulties, insufficient diet, and poor
sanitation continue to have a serious impact on the health of the
displaced.
Hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, skin and intestinal
infections, and anaemia, along with ailments due to malnutrition
are rife, with women and children being particularly vulnerable to
them. Members of the IDP population are also increasingly
suffering from deep psychological trauma after having witnessed or
suffered from acts of violence.
According to the report, 14 per cent of IDPs claim they have no
access to health care services, and 30 per cent that they simply
cannot afford or access the medications they desperately
need.
Although 80 per cent of IDPs assessed by IOM say they have
access to water, this does not mean it is safe to drink as 53 per
cent said they get their water from nearby rivers, lakes, and
streams and 52 per cent from open or broken pipes.
Access to school for displaced children across the country
remains very limited for a variety of reasons, including economic
difficulties, travel distance to school, staying home to care for
the family while parents work, having to work themselves due to no
family income, and lack of proper documentation. Furthermore,
many schools in host communities lack teaching staff, reading
materials and furniture. In areas with high concentrations of IDP
families, schools are often doing three to four shifts in order to
accommodate as many children as possible.
Despite limited funding and insecurity, IOM continues to assist
the displaced, returning Iraqis, and host communities with
emergency food, water and household item distributions, community
assistance projects, and advocacy. However, overall
assistance to these vulnerable communities remains
inadequate. Until long-term stability is realized, rule of
law improved and basic services restored, internal displacement in
Iraq will remain a serious humanitarian crisis that calls for
urgent assistance.
To access the full report, please go to
"paragraph-link-no-underline" href=
"http://www.iom-iraq.net/Library/Iraq%20Displacement%20and%20Return%20Mid-Year%20Review%202008.pdf">this
link.
For further information, please contact:
Dana Graber Ladek
Iraq Displacement Specialist
Tel: +962 79 611 1759
E-mail:
"mailto:dgraber@iom-iraq.net">dgraber@iom-iraq.net