Iraq's Displacement Crisis Persists, Despite Decreased Violence and Limited Returns in 2007
IOM's 2007 Displacement Review shows that despite decreasing levels
of violence, reduced displacement rates and limited returns, Iraq
is still facing a serious humanitarian crisis with more than 2.4
million Iraqis internally displaced and some 2 million living as
refugees, mostly in neighbouring Syria and Jordan.
The report finds that from 2006 to 2007, 78 percent of those
interviewed by IOM had been displaced following the bombing of the
Al-Askari Mosque in Samara in February 2006. However, displacement
rates slowed significantly in 2007 with increased numbers of
internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees returning to their
places of origin.
In December, the Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration,
which is registering returnees to receive a one million Iraqi dinar
(US$ 800) stipend, reported that more than 3,650 families had
registered in Baghdad and a further 6,000 were waiting to be
registered.
Although returns in certain areas such as Anbar province have
produced a net decrease in the size of the displaced population,
the report underlines that returns remain very limited and in
Baghdad represent only 8 percent of the overall number of displaced
Iraqis.
IOM's report underlines that 31 percent of the displaced claim
that their property is occupied by private citizens and states that
the settlement of legal disputes over property will likely become a
major issue if return movements continue or
increase.
The 2007 report says that 65 percent of the IDPs assessed by IOM
were displaced either from or within Bagdad governorate, followed
by Diyala (19 percent), Anbar (4 percent), Ninewa (4 percent) and
Salah Al-Din (3 percent). About 61 percent say they fled direct
threats to their life.
"The prolonged nature of the displacement crisis is increasing
the plight of displaced families," says IOM's Iraq Displacement
Specialist, Dana Graber Ladek. "Many can no longer afford to pay
for even substandard shelter and have little access to basic
services, such as clean water, sanitation and electricity."
The 2007 Displacement Review says that only 22 percent of IDPs
have access to regular food distributions. This, with inadequate
shelter and poor services are a major cause of chronic health
problems and malnutrition among women, children and the elderly,
with female-headed households representing an extremely vulnerable
group.
The report notes that the availability and quality of healthcare
in Iraq had dramatically deteriorated in 2007 due to the continued
exodus of qualified professionals, severe shortage of medical
equipment and damaged infrastructures.
According to health workers and IOM monitors, there has been a
rise in the number of unattended births, miscarriages, and
prostitution, and many Iraqis have experienced deep psychological
trauma during their displacement.
Despite insecurity and limited funding, IOM last year conducted
16 Emergency Distributions that provided food and non-food items
such as blankets, mattresses, fuel and kitchen sets to IDPs and
their host communities. IOM also completed 38 Community Assistance
Projects to improve basic services in the water, sanitation,
health, education and livelihood sectors, benefiting more than
570,000 individuals.
IOM plans to continue these programmes in 2008 and to expand its
operations to monitor, assess and assist IDP populations returning
to their places of origin. However, only 25 percent of IOM's US$ 85
million proposal to assist IDPs and other vulnerable groups has
been funded.
IOM's 2007 Iraq Displacement in Review can also be found at
class="paragraph-link-no-underline" href=
"http://www.iomiraq.net/idp.html" target="_blank" title=
"">http://www.iomiraq.net/idp.html.
For further information, please contact:
Dana Graber Ladek
IOM Iraq Displacement Specialist
Tel: +962 79 611 1759
E-mail:
"mailto:dgraber@iom.int">dgraber@iom.int