Iraq - IOM yesterday (9/2) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kerbala Governorate in Central Iraq to enhance cooperation on migration management and emergency response activities.

IOM Iraq Chief of Mission Thomas Lothar Weiss, and the Governor of Kerbala, Aqeel Omran Al-Turahi, signed the MoU in a ceremony at the governorate administrative building.

Under the agreement, Kerbala Governorate will continue to support IOM to implement humanitarian assistance including: community development activities, livelihood projects, and emergency relief distributions for vulnerable and displaced families and host communities.

IOM’s emergency relief distributions include provision of shelter and distribution of non-food item (NFI) relief kits, which offer mattresses, blankets, stoves and other essential items.

Since January 2014 some 2,500 NFI kits and 700 tents have been distributed in Kerbala Governorate to serve over 18,000 displaced people. All of the 1,200 NFI kits distributed since October are winterized kits, which include heaters, warm blankets and carpets to support displaced families through the cold winter months.

Dr. Weiss said: “Kerbala Governorate authorities provide essential assistance to facilitate IOM’s emergency relief distributions and inform our joint humanitarian assistance efforts. IOM is pleased to establish this MoU to formalize and enhance our collaboration with Kerbala Governorate to assist these vulnerable people.”

Governor Al-Turahi said: “There were two teams – the Government of Kerbala and IOM. Now we are one team to help displaced people. We will effectively work together as one team to jointly achieve the objectives of this MoU to assist the displaced in Kerbala.”

Kerbala Governorate representatives facilitate IOM field activities by identifying vulnerable groups, endorsing field visits, and supporting data collection. This includes support to understand and meet the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and vulnerable communities via public service providers, in coordination with municipal, local and community key informants.

IOM’s fieldwork involves the collection of data for IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) carried out by IOM’s Rapid Assessment Response Teams (RART).

According to IOM’s DTM, as of the end of January, Kerbala Governorate hosts an estimated 11,507 displaced families (approximately 69,042 individuals); more than 90 per cent originate from the Governorate of Ninewa. The majority of the displaced (75 per cent) are sheltered in religious buildings; 17 per cent are staying in rented houses or hotels; and 6 per cent are living with host families.

The MoU formalizes the ongoing close cooperation between IOM and Kerbala Governorate. Under the agreement, the governorate will allocate warehouses to store IOM materials and house an office for IOM staff. Kerbala Governorate authorities will also provide essential municipal services, water and sewage in residential complexes for the internally displaced to be constructed in cooperation with IOM.

For more information, please contact

Sandra Black

IOM Iraq

Tel: +964 751 234 2550

Email: sblack@iom.int