Iraq
2019-03 Factsheet
Highlights
Although 4.21 million people have returned, 1.74 million IDPs remain as of 28th February 2019. Despite the continuous return, the amount remaining in displacement is highly than predicted. Of those in displacement, 31% 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 facing significant challneges for a range of reasons but mainly for budgetary constraints. 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, 1.74 million IDPs and 4.21 million Returnees have been identified across the country, from January 2014 to 28th February 2019.
The number of IDPs keep decreasing (from 2.6 million, end of Dec.’17 to 1.74 million, end of Feb.’19); while the numbers of returnees has increased (from 3.2 million, end of Dec.’17 to 4.21 million, end of Feb.’19).
- 31% of the 1.74 million IDPs are in camps, while 61% are currently in private settings (in rented accommodation or with host families); 8% remain in critical shelter arrangements (unfinished/abandoned building; school/religious buildings and informal settlements).
- 98% of the returnees are in their habitual residence while 2% live in critical shelter arrangement such as informal settlements, unfinished and abandoned buildings, schools, religious structures.
Response
- Out of the overall target of 881,650 individuals, 49,846 people have been assisted with NFI kits; 2,158 have benefited from shelter interventions. The coverage for NFI kits stands at 6% of the cluster target; and the coverage for shelter stands at 1% of the cluster target. From the total reached beneficiaries:
- 15,982 people living in camps and informal settlements have been reached with NFI kits; 1,838 were provided with emergency shelter interventions.
- 12,792 returnees have been reached with NFI kits; 226 were assisted with emergency repairs of war damaged houses including the provision of sealing-off kits.
Gaps / challenges
- The GoI has supported IDP families in and out of camps with kerosene distribution to cover the need for heating and/or cooking throughout the winter months. Nonetheless, low quantities distributed as well as frequency of distribution did not meet beneficiaries’ needs.
- Due to the insufficient quantity of kerosene distributed and delays in the activities, camp residents have adopted dangerous coping mechanisms, such as burning trash and the use of electrical water heaters directly into water tanks, without any protection from electrocution. This may also be the case for vulnerable people living out of camps in substandard accommodations.
