Iraq
2018-12 Factsheet
Highlights
Although 4.17 million people have returned, 1.80 million IDPs remain as of December 2018. Despite the continous return, the amount remaining in displacement is highly than predicted. Of those in displacement, 30% are in camps, many of which are not scheduled to close. Highly vulnerable IDPs in out of camps remain scattered, blended within the host community and in some areas difficult to reach. Returnees, unable to sustain themselves in their areas of origin show an increasing trend of returning to camps.
Needs of IDP and returnees remain high. The most vulnerable continue to fall below minimum living conditions and depend on humanitarian assistance to survive.
Camp maintenance and upgrade, tent replacement, basic NFI and seasonal support are required.
In out of camps, critical shelter and seasonal support are the highest priorities.
In heavily war-impacted areas, people’s highest needs include shelter repairs, transitional shelter solutions and seasonal support.
The government has made efforts to complement humanitarian NFI assistance, whilst the compensation process to private home owners has not started yet. Stabilisation/development programs are yet to commence at to a level which could encourage more significant durable return.
Use of solar power especially in camps should be considered, whenever investment analysis proves its cost efficiency against the lifespan of the camps.
Coverage against targets
Need analysis
As per the IOM-led DTM report, 1.80 million IDPs and 4.17 million Returnees have been identified across the country, from January 2014 to 31st December 2018.
The number of IDPs keep decreasing (from 2.6 million, end of Dec.’17 to 1.80 million, 31st Dec.’18); while the numbers of returnees has increased (from 3.2 million, end of Dec.’17 to 4.17 million, 31st Dec.’18).
Most critical needs are the ones faced by people living in critical shelter during winter months. The Shelter and NFI Cluster has been advocating for replacing tents installed by MoMD in IDP camps. Due to exhausted lifespan, 23,150 families live in tents that do not offer anymore enough protection from climatic conditions. Similarly, kerosene for heating purposes is also a pressing issue, which has been addressed on several occasions to the relevant authorities through Cluster Lead Agency Representative, the HCT and HC.
Response
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Out of the overall target of 1.9 million, 1,600,098 people have been assisted with NFI kits; 232,216 of which have also benefited from shelter interventions. The coverage for NFI kits stands at 85% of the cluster target; and the coverage for shelter stands at 12% of the cluster target. From the total reached beneficiaries:
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1,233,382 people living in camps and informal settlements have been reached with NFI kits; 68,521 of which were provided with emergency shelter interventions.
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215,990 highly vulnerable returnees have been reached with NFI kits; 138,166 of which were assisted with emergency repairs of war damaged houses including the provision of sealing-off kits.
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52,446 highly vulnerable newly displaced have been reached with NFI kits; 823 of which were assisted with emergency shelter interventions.
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98,280 highly vulnerable people who are not covered by social protection system have been assisted with NFI kits; 24,706 of which have been assisted with emergency upgrade/repair of basic shelters.
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Cluster partners also distributed seasonal clothing to the most vulnerable; thus 23,273 babies (0-1 year), 82,771 infants (2-5 years), 100,193 children (6-11 years), 38,026 adolescents (12-18 years) and 11,512 adults (over 18 years) were reached, allowing 255,775 individuals to improve their dignity and cope with the cold season.
Gaps / challenges
In none of the camps in Anbar, Baghdad, Dahuk, Diyala, Erbil, Kirkuk, Salah Al Din, Sulaymaniyah and Ninewa kerosene for winter has been distributed so far. In camps in Centre and South kerosene for cooking is also not distributed on a regular and sufficient basis. This is of particular concern from a health and dignity perspective. Allegedly IDPs are resorting to negative coping mechanisms, such as burning trash to warm up their shelter.
