Thousands of Iraqis displaced by on-going
conflict in the country are in need of greater and long-term
assistance, according to IOM.

According to the Organization and the Iraqi
Ministry of Displacement and Migration, there has been a
significant rise in population displacement recently with between
30,000 to 36,000 people fleeing their homes in the past few weeks
alone. Most of the displacement has occurred in Baghdad, Anbar and
Diyala governorates with additional displacements also occurring in
localized areas of conflict. More than one million people are now
displaced in the country as a result of three decades of conflict
and the on-going violence.

Working closely with the Ministry of
Displacement and Migration, the UN and non-governmental
organizations, IOM is coordinating the monitoring of internally
displaced populations (IDPs) in central and southern Iraq.

In addition, the Organization is carrying out
emergency distributions of food and non-food items such as
mattresses, blankets, water buckets, cooking sets, and hygiene kits
to vulnerable populations as well as providing clean water and
medical assistance. However, shelter assistance is also
required.

"These people may need long-term assistance as
well. There needs to be a long-term solution to help them and we
need to plan for that," said Rafiq Tschannen, IOM's chief of
mission for Iraq.

IOM is seeking US$10 million for a 12-month
emergency programme to help displaced people who are either living
with family or friends or who are squatting in public or abandoned
buildings and vulnerable populations in need of similar assistance
as well as for other community assistance work.

Over the past few weeks, IOM has also
evacuated 150 patients to other countries for medical treatment
after Iraqi Ministry of Health requested the Organization to
restart its medical evacuation programme. At least 6,000 Iraqis are
currently on the Iraqi Ministry of Health list awaiting life-saving
treatment abroad for conditions including cancer, heart disease and
neurological disorders. Many of those on the list are children
injured by bomb explosions or mines or those who have medical
conditions Iraqi hospitals are unable to treat due to lack of
staff, equipment or medicines.

The programme, which is also in need of funds,
matches patients with pro-bono medical assistance provided by
hospitals abroad. In its previous medical evacuation programme in
Iraq, IOM assisted nearly 300 patients between 2003 and 2005.

For further information, please contact:

Jemini Pandya

IOM Geneva

Tel: + 41 22 717 9486

E-mail: "mailto:jpandya@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">jpandya@iom.int

Rafiq Tschannen

E-mail: "mailto:rtschannen@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">rtschannen@iom.int