KIRKUK CITY - IRAQ
INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT FACTSHEET
DATA COLLECTED: 22 – 23 SEPTEMBER 2014
The worsening security situation in parts of northern and central Iraq has caused mass
internal displacement across much of the country. Humanitarian response operations
have been taking place in the accessible areas of the north where approximately half of
the 1.8 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have currently settled. Elsewhere in
the country however, where ongoing violence has severely limited humanitarian access,
information is incomplete and assistance is limited, leaving the remaining half of the
displaced population without support from the humanitarian sector.
In response to these information gaps, REACH Initiative set up and is using a network of
key informants originating from inaccessible or hard-to-reach areas to assess the current
situation in order to inform a rapid, targeted humanitarian response in these areas, as
soon as they become accessible. This factsheet provides an overview of displacement
trends from and to IDPs’ areas of origin, as well as key issues related to shelter, food and
livelihoods faced both by IDPs and host communities living in areas affected by the crisis,
followed by priority needs as identified during the assessment. The factsheet should be
read in conjunction with the Kirkuk City dashboard, which provides a rapid overview of
key findings.
DISPLACEMENT OVERVIEW
Kurdish military forces took control of Kirkuk City just a few days after Armed
Opposition Groups (AOGs) attacked Mosul in June 2014, and have since fought to
protect it against AOG advances. The security situation in Kirkuk City, the capital of the
governorate, remains volatile with explosions reported regularly. Despite this, only a
relatively small proportion of families have left Kirkuk City. Most IDPs in Kirkuk City
originate from Anbar as a result of clashes prior to June. Others originate from
neighbouring Salah Al-Din governorate which has seen large swathes of territory fall to
AOGs.
Map 1: Areas included in the Kirkuk City analysis
Data was collected between 22 and 23 September 2014, using a Key Informant (KI)
network across nine neighbourhoods of Kirkuk City: Askan, Azadi, Filq, Kurdistan,
Qadisiya, Rahim Awa, Shoraw, Shoreja and Yadgar. In this factsheet, primary data is
complemented by secondary sources including the International Organisation for
Migration (IOM)’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) and other humanitarian reports.
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METHODOLOGY
DISPLACEMENT TRENDS
For this assessment, REACH used its Area of Origin (AoO) methodology, which was
designed and is currently applied in other emergency settings as part of its overall
support to the regional Syria crisis response. The AoO methodology was first piloted in
Iraq in July 2014.1 By interviewing IDPs about their usual place of residence, REACH has
been able to collect information about the situation in conflict-affected areas where there
is no or limited humanitarian access. Due to the dynamic context, REACH teams were
also able to collect information directly from key informants in newly accessible areas.
DISPLACEMENT FROM AREA OF ORIGIN
Using a pre-established network from prior assessment activities, REACH teams
identified both host community and IDP Key Informants (KIs) who were staying in
targeted areas or who were in regular contact with persons in their place of origin since
being relocated, and who indicated a willingness to provide information. Target locations
for primary data collection were based on figures provided by the IOM DTM, which
indicated where large proportions of IDPs had arrived from since August 2014.
To provide indicative findings at the city level, REACH teams collected 20 – 21 KI
samples. The stratification of these samples across the city was weighted against the
numbers of IDPs residing in different neighbourhoods in the city. For certain
neighbourhoods a larger sample size was achieved due to the extensive presence of KIs
originating from these areas in the location of the assessment. During data cleaning
additional samples were randomly deleted to achieve a baseline sample size required for
the city weighted by neighbourhoods.
Findings from these discussions have been triangulated with and supported by relevant
and recent secondary data sources.
At a strategic fault line between AOG and Kurdish controlled areas, Kirkuk governorate
includes districts disputed between the Government of Iraq (GoI) and the Kurdistan
Regional Government (KRG). Home to Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen, the contested area is
one of the region’s most precarious ethnic pressure points. Since the June upheaval,
many districts in Kirkuk governorate have fallen to AOGs and other areas have witnessed
sporadic clashes between the AOGs and Kurdish military forces. The IOM DTM of 14
September 2014 identified that roughly 3,000 families from Kirkuk governorate had
sought refuge in predominantly Qadissiya and Wassit governorates, and some in ThiQar, Baghdad, Kerbala, Missan, Basrah and Babylon.
Within Kirkuk governorate the DTM identified 21, 249 displaced families. Many of these
are located in Kirkuk City. Despite a rise in car bombings and violence, the city is
perceived as safer relative to other areas in the governorate.2
KIs identified that many IDPs in Kirkuk City originate from from Tikrit in Salah Al-Din
governorate, as well as from Fallujah and Ramadi in Anbar governorate. Many people
fled neighbouring Salah Al-Din as a result of rapid AOG advances south of Mosul during
June.3 Turbulent clashes since the end of 20134 have led to longer-term displacement
from Anbar. The majority of IDPs from Anbar are reported to have fled initially to the
Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and later moved south to Kirkuk for lower living costs and
rent.5 IDPs in Kirkuk City were also identified as originating from Al-Muqdadiya in Diyala
governorate and Sheikhan in Ninewa governorate.
LA Times, Oil-rich Kirkuk in Iraq’s north fears attack by Islamic State, (22 September 2014).
Human Rights Watch, Iraq: ISIS Advance Threatens Civilians, (12 June 2014).
4 UNHCR, Briefing notes, Displacement of people continues to rise in Anbar, Iraq, (7 March 2014).
5 IOM Reports, Displacement Snapshot: Kirkuk, (September 2014).
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REACH, Assessment of Area of Origin of Internally Displaced Persons in Northern Iraq, (12 July 2014).
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Since September, movement into Kirkuk City has been restricted to mitigate attempts by
AOGs to attack or infiltrate the area.6 It was reported that entry points to the governorate
were closed in September to anyone who did not have Kirkuk identity documentation,
reducing displacement into the governorate.7 Despite this IDPs continued to arrive in the
city as many also originate from within Kirkuk governorate.8 Kirkuk City is likely to
continue to see displacements outside of the city until the security situation improves.
RETURN TO AREA OF ORIGIN
No returns were reported during this assessment as relatively few families have been
displaced out of Kirkuk City and violence is on the rise. Field observations discovered
that often male heads of households residing in the nearby KRI return home temporarily
to evaluate the status of their assets and security situation.
On average 40% of IDPs were reportedly living in collective shelters such as large
abandoned buildings, mosques and schools in Kirkuk City. Many families living in
collective shelters feel at risk of eviction, as owners may seek to reclaim property or start
to charge rent in abandoned buildings, and mosques and schools need to relocate
inhabitants in order to resume services. A previous assessment by REACH conducted in
August 2014 in the KRI found that 32% of displaced families living in collective shelters
believed they would be evicted, while 50% feared eviction.9
The Iraqi school year starts between September and the end of October. Therefore most
displaced households settled in schools across the city have been or will be forced to
relocate. Without a support network or resources to pay for rent, these IDPs will likely
resort to open air spaces or makeshift shelters – thus becoming particularly vulnerable
during the winter months.
FOOD
ACCESS TO SHELTER, FOOD AND LIVELIHOODS
SHELTER
KIs claimed that many people were facing food shortages, although they were not life
threatening. During times of conflict resources become scarce and often push up prices
of food items (see Figure 1). However, the price of staple items in Kirkuk City has
remained more stable in comparison to other areas assessed by REACH.
35% IDPS WERE REPORTEDLY LIVING IN OPEN AIR
Figure 1: Reported price inflation among key food items as reported by KIs
Bread
Cooking Oil
Chicken
Meat
Rice
Tomato
The large proportion of displaced households that have settled in open air spaces
throughout Kirkuk City represent an extremely vulnerable group. They have limited
access to water, hygiene facilities and electricity. A lack of privacy and protection
concerns are exacerbated in overcrowded unfinished buildings. During the upcoming
winter months IDPs living in open air are the most vulnerable to exposure.
REACH found that only 22% of IDPs were living in apartments, houses or hosted by
family. An overwhelming majority of families are unable to afford housing or lack a
support network of friends and family.
4%
4%
7%
1%
1%
19%
LIVELIHOODS
KIs reported that only between 20 and 29% of the population that was employed before
the crisis was still working in the same job at the time of assessment.
Rudaw News, Peshmerga shut down Kirkuk border, (9 September 2014).
IOM Reports, Displacement Snapshot: Kirkuk, (September 2014).
8 Rudaw, Arabs in Kirkuk Want Elections Delayed, (26 March 2014).
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Shelter and CCCM Cluster Rapid Assessment in partnership with REACH, Iraq Internal Displacement Crisis Assessment
Report, (10 September 2014).
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The majority of those in employment worked as unskilled and agricultural labourers. The
presence of IDPs is likely to further increase the competition for jobs in Kirkuk City,
raising the difficulties faced by host community population as well. This will affect IDPs’
ability to access sufficient food and water, medicines, non-food items for winter and pay
for rent. Public services have reportedly been partly inhibited due to a delay in budget
allocations – rendering populations more reliant on their own spending.10 Families could
soon start resorting to unhealthy and unsustainable coping mechanisms as seen in other
areas assessed, such as a reduction of meal portion sizes in Ramadi in Anbar.
FIRST PRIORITY NEEDS
THE FIRST PRIORITY NEED FOR IDPS WAS FOOD
The most reported priority need for IDPs was food. The significant proportion of IDPs
living in the open air have minimal resources and are struggling to meet their most basic
needs. Although no informants reported food shortages to be life threatening, if
assistance is not received the situation will deteriorate further.
Household items were also a reported priority need. Displaced families living in open air
and collective shelters require non-food items for makeshift shelter, sleeping and cooking
purposes. For those living in apartments or hosted by friends or family, inflation and loss
of employment has reduced purchasing power.
KIs reported that many people are unable to access health services. The problem
reported to most affect healthcare facilities was a lack of electricity. Other reasons
included a lack of medicines and damage from explosives. The World Health
Organisation condemned an air strike on Hawija General Hospital, 30 miles south of
Kirkuk City, and expressed concern for the targeting of health care facilities in rest of
Kirkuk governorate.11
On the other hand, the limited availability of electricity is unlikely to impact families’ ability
to heat their households during the winter months since the population in Kirkuk City rely
mainly on gas heaters and kerosene for heating.
Nonetheless, almost all respondents claimed that fuel shortages were faced on a weekly
basis or more regularly. The whole of Iraq is currently facing fuel shortages due to the
cessation of refineries under attack by AOGs.12 If fuel shortages are to continue on a
regular basis, it is likely that families who rely on kerosene to heat their accommodation
will be severely affected in the winter – this year the temperatures ranged between -5 and
11 degrees Celsius.13
KIs reported that host communities and IDPs in Kirkuk City face water shortages on a
weekly basis, with negative implications for availability of drinking water (the majority rely
on private wells or trucking delivery of water), water for cooking purposes and hygiene.
Electricity was the third reported primary need. A majority of KIs reported that households
in Kirkuk City access electricity via the main network, but only slightly more than half
reported that IDP shelters were connected to the general electricity network. Most
informants noted that shelters have access to electricity for less than two hours a day,
and face shortages several times a week. The limited availability of electricity and poor
lighting lowers the security of collective shelters.
LESS THAN 10% OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES WERE FUNCTIONING
United Nations Iraq, WHO condemns the air strike on Hawija General Hospital near Kirkuk, (10 September 2014).
European Commission, Iraq- Humanitarian situation and displacement, (2 September 2014).
13 Accuweather.com, Kirkuk, January 2014.
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IOM Reports, Displacement Snapshot: Kirkuk, (September 2014).
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CONCLUSION
Kirkuk City is considered safer than the other districts within the governorate - many of
which have come under the control of AOGs – and thus has attracted a large number of
IDPs. The absorption capacity of Kirkuk City is especially limited as only a relatively
small number of families have left the city. This leaves few options available to displaced
families, many of whom were reportedly living in the open air. This also places host
communities under additional strain as existing infrastructure and basic services struggle
under increased demand.
Food was reported as a priority need for IDPs in Kirkuk City. IDPs living in open air are
the most vulnerable to exposure during the winter months and already lack access to
basic services such as water, hygiene and electricity. The number of families living in
open air or makeshift shelter arrangements is already high and likely to increase as
families staying in collective shelters, particularly schools, face eviction. It is important to
identify safe alternative shelter arrangements for these families.
The large number of displaced families residing in collective shelters are also vulnerable,
often with inadequate housing facilities for hygiene, cooking and heating, some in unsafe
buildings with little privacy. These IDPs need household items and better access to
electricity in order to respond to protection concerns and exposure to the winter climate.
The humanitarian community should assess these shelters in order to better understand
how to meet needs of IDPs staying there. To improve the situation for those IDPs living in
collective shelters, assistance should be provided to improve services in existing
locations and provide alternative shelter for IDPs facing eviction.
Displaced households living in rented houses and apartments are in less need of
immediate assistance, but many host community and displaced families are already
spending their savings. Increased competition for housing and decreased access to
livelihoods in Kirkuk City means that IDPs will soon need rental and/or cash support to
pay for accommodation and other basic items.
About REACH Initiative
REACH facilitates the development of information tools and products that enhance the
capacity of aid actors to make evidence-based decisions in emergency, recovery and
development contexts. All REACH activities are conducted through inter-agency aid
coordination mechanisms. For more information, you can write to [email protected] or
[email protected]. Visit www.reach-intiative.org and follow us @REACH_info.
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