IOM
International Organization
for Migration
Perspectives On Migration From Iraq
A Survey of Migrants and Potential Migrants in Iraq and the UK - 2013
Table of Contents
Survey Background
4
6
Methodology
8
Participant Snapshot
Have you ever seriously considered migration?
Why do you want to leave Iraq?
10
12
14
Why do you no longer consider migration?
Where do you want to leave to and why?
16
18
Are you aware of their immigration rules?
Who supports your migration, how and why?
20
What improvements would keep you in Iraq?
22
Perceptions on migration - how do people leave Iraq?
24
Why do people leave irregularly and how much do they pay?
Life in the UK - what do you expect in your new country?
Would you return to Iraq/UK?
Conclusions
Recommendations
Acknowledgements
28
30
What would attract you to return to Iraq?
26
32
34
38
42
Survey Background
From Anecdotes to Evidence
In February 2012, IOM conducted a rapid
assessment in Erbil to better understand
attitudes and perceptions of young people
towards migration. The rapid survey of 180
people highlighted some very interesting
trends. The survey revealed that the
overwhelming majority of interviewees wished
to leave Kurdistan, with a significant minority
willing to do so illegally/irregularly if necessary.
It also showed that many were prepared to
pay large sums of money to migrate irregularly
as it was regarded as faster and cheaper.
Furthermore, it demonstrated that the main
motive for leaving Kurdistan was the lack of
income/job opportunities.
As thought provoking as the results were, they
raised more questions than they answered. Is
it true that in Iraq’s fastest growing economy
4
Survey Background
young men wanted to leave to find jobs? Is this
trend reflected across Kurdish areas and the
rest of Iraq? What influences these choices?
What do people think of irregular migration?
How much do they know about their destination
country and what or who informs their opinions
on migration? Many questions remained
unanswered.
The results were presented to central and
international governments’ representatives in
Baghdad in March 2012. Many governments,
including the United Kingdom (UK), found the
results applicable to their own situations –
especially in regards to understanding more
about the reasons for irregular migration.
Many international and government programs
are based on weak, or little research. The
lack of data concerning migrants motivations
and perceptions, prevents the
development of effective policy.
Recognising the value of this
work, the British government
agreed to support a more in-depth
survey to better understand the
migration dynamics between Iraq
and the UK. This research would
then be used to develop and
improve migration initiatives in Iraq
and possible engagement with the
Iraqi diaspora in the UK.
55
Methodology
In August 2012 IOM began the process of
developing, testing and training its staff using the
new FCO survey methodology. In total IOM collected
2600 questionnaires across UK, Baghdad, Basra,
Dahouk, Erbil and Sulemanya.
To better mirror the demographics of those Iraqi
migrants arriving in the UK, IOM’s sampling of
participants aimed to replicate the age, gender,
education level, urban versus rural and regional
origin in its target group. IOM focused on:
• Men more than women (85% men)
• 18-35 year olds (87%)
• Low to basic educational background (95%
maximum education of secondary school)
• Urban more than rural (90% urban)
• Low to medium monthly income (64% had
an average household monthly income of less
than $500)
• Predominantly from Kurdish (65% Kurdish)
IOM did not directly mirror the British
6
Methodology
other aspects affected the migration dynamics.
IOM also surveyed women, rural and older
people, and Iraqis from Baghdad and Basra,
demographics not traditionally associated with
the Iraqi diaspora in the UK.
IOM also expanded its focus to include the
conditions faced by irregular Iraqi migrants
to the UK. Using the support of the Middle
East Consultant Services (MECS), and IOM
UK’s long supported networks in the Kurdish
diaspora, IOM UK surveyed over 200 irregular
migrants and key members of the Iraqi irregular
irregular Iraqi migrants, IOM could compare
and contrast the results from the Iraq based
survey. IOM was able to analyse the gap
between what potential migrants expect of
irregular migration and the reality it presents.
Due to the sensitivity of some questions regarding
irregular migration, as well as the personal stories
that were related during the original mini-survey,
IOM was eager to use a range of survey types to
obtain a deeper understanding than numbers could
provide. The survey scope was much larger than
the pilot survey, allowing IOM to ask more detailed
questions on the perceptions and demographics of
potential migrant.
Alongside questionnaires, IOM also convened
focus group discussions (FGDs) to learn more
about migration dynamics. In total IOM completed
25 FGDs in Iraq and 2 in the UK. Focus groups
allow for the collection of more detailed, qualitative
information and can be a more appropriate
forum for more sensitive issues such as irregular
migration.
The final survey type was key informant interviews
(KII) which allowed IOM monitors to select people
with detailed experience of migration. KIIs were
particularly important in the UK where IOM
completed 10. In Iraq, the field teams interviewed
21 key informants from across the migration field
including government officials, community leaders
and youth representatives. These informed opinions
provided an insight beyond the individual migrant,
potential migrant and returnee to better understand
overall migration dynamics.
Using this methodology, IOM was able to survey
nearly 3,000 migrants, potential migrants and
returnees to provide a far broader and more detailed
picture of migration dynamics between Iraq and
the UK. IOM hopes this will lead to a more targeted
approach to migration policy between the two
countries. 7
Participant Snapshot
Basic demographic information on survey participants and their
background
In January and February 2013, IOM surveyed nearly 3,000
potential migrants, irregular migrants and returnees
across Iraq and the UK. Through 2,600 questionnaires,
27 Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and 31 Key Informant
Interviews (KII), IOM studied the attitudes, motivations
and perceptions of Iraqis towards a wide range of
migration issues.
To best reflect the demographics of the irregular Iraqi
community in the UK, IOM focussed on the views of
Iraqis between 18-35 (87%), men (85%), urban (90%) and
with an average household income below $500 per month
(64%). They also chose respondents with an educational
background of secondary school as their maximum
level (95%). Finally, due to the majority of the survey
being undertaken in the Kurdish region the survey was
predominantly Kurdish (65%).
Gender
8
Participant Snapshot
3%
Age
10%
44%
43%
Less than 18 years - 3%
18 - 25 years - 43%
26 - 35 years - 44%
36 - 49 years - 10%
100%
90%
Urban versus rural
55%
Education
80%
40%
20%
95%
10%
Highest education
level achieved: above
secondary school
Highest education
level achieved:
secondary school
0%
Urban
Rural
4%
Income
3%
Ethnicity
5
28%
43%
65%
Kurdish - 65%
Arabs - 28%
Chaldean - 4%
Assyrian - 3%
9
Q: Have you ever seriously considered migration?
Migration is more popular in Baghdad and Basra than the North
how attractive migration was, it did give a glimpse
at the popularity of migration across the chosen
governorates. Due to the nature of the survey
in targeting, young, unemployed and under
employed males the results can only be indicative
show a very widespread desire to migrate. In
the South almost all respondents said they had
seriously considered migration, and across the
Kurdistan region the majority also had seriously
considered migration.
In Baghdad and Basra over 99% of respondents
reported they had seriously considered migration,
in the North, however, the numbers dropped to
92% in Dahouk, 77% in Erbil and all the way down
to 49% in Sulemanya. In fact Sulemanya was the
only governorate in which fewer respondents said
they had seriously considered migration than had
not.
10
Survey Results
Respondents with a higher level of education
were only slightly more likely to have considered
migration than those respondents who had
received a lower level of education. Women were
10% more likely than men to have considered
migration but were much less likely to have taken
any real steps towards migration.
contemplating migration. Families with more than
migration (3-5% per additional child). So a child
from a family of eight was approximately 12% more
likely to have considered migration than those who
There was also a strong correlation between
those who had family and friends abroad and
their likelihood to have considered migration. This
reinforces the idea of “chain migration” being a
strong factor for migrants to the UK. 83% of those
Q: Have you ever seriously considered migration? - YES
that said they had family or friends
abroad have considered migration
as opposed to only 68% of those
without family or friends abroad.
In Iraq, 49% of those who had
answered that they had “seriously
considered migration” had taken
no active steps toward migrating.
Respondents in Erbil were the
most likely to have begun such
preparations – with 64% having
taken some kind of action
(including saving money, trying
to leave, contacting a smuggler
or applying for a visa legally).
This shows a large gap between
considering migration and actually
pursuing it. For many migration
remains an idea, but is not
seriously considered as a viable
option.
11
Q: Why do you want to leave Iraq?
Potential migrants want to be safe, employed and socially free
This question in particular highlighted many of
the frustrations prevalent in Iraqi youth. Beyond
job opportunities there was a wider sense of
injustice and resentment against the authorities
whether they were conservative leaders,
or the government as a whole. Many expressed
disenfranchisement and desperation. For them,
their inability to affect, control or contribute to the
way they were governed was a real driving force
for them to leave.
A recurrent theme across all governorates’ FGDs
was that jobs were not just in short supply, but
that the hiring practices for the limited amount
of jobs were at best unfair and at worst corrupt.
Government jobs were “limited only to certain
people” (Baghdad), and hiring was “inequitable”
(Basra). In Sulemanya, participants said that
“two parties control everywhere in Kurdistan, if
12
Survey Results
belonging to them they will employee you, if not
[then] no employment”.
There were regional differences in the reasons for
migration between the North, Centre and South of
Iraq. In Baghdad the main reason for migration was
security with 68% of respondents citing it as their
main motivation. In Baghdad the economy and “social
life” were in the top three but were a much lower
priority. In Basra, Dahouk and Sulemanya jobs
and economic reasons were stated as the most
important factors. In Erbil, “lack of social life” was
named as the most important concern, followed
by the economy and employment opportunities.
Lack of social life covers such concerns as “lack
of community”, “No youth entertainment” and
“lack of human rights”. Respondents understood
the term “human rights” in terms of individual
freedoms rather than in the Western legal sense.
were mentioned, although in Erbil they were
predominant with 46% of respondents citing
it as their number one reason to migrate.
Q: Why do you want to leave Iraq?
Dahouk
43%
in the North some, participants stated that economic
factors were no longer the main determinant
that they used to be and that wages and
lack of social freedoms were their main
concern. In Erbil and Sulemanya, jobs
were cited as less of a factor during FGDs.
Respect for human rights, social freedoms
and corruption were mentioned much more
frequently. In Sulemanya one participant said
“Before 2003, 95% of people left to make
money and make life better, but after 2003
most of migration is for enjoy [-ing] life…to
live the same life as young European citizens
live.” In the UK, members of the Kurdish
diaspora interviewed echoed these thoughts
of two stages of migration; “Those who leave
now are after two main goals, one of them
Economy / Jobs
Lack of Social Lif
personal freedom and the other: opportunity,
13%
46%
Erbil
12%
9%
26%
36%
10%
Sulemanya
22%
IRAQ
or political” Key Informant, UK.
Baghdad
68%
19%
4%
19%
e
Securit y
Lack of Services
Education Qualit y
Corruption / Lack of Justice
Basra
17%
34%
13
Q: Why do you no longer consider migration?
Money, family and security were the main reasons why people stayed in Iraq
The reasons for no longer considering migration
varied greatly across governorates. In Dahouk
the main reason migration was no longer
considered was due to a lack of money (41%
of respondents) with family reasons coming
second (23%). In contrast, Erbil and Sulemanya
respondents said the main reason why migration
was no longer considered was an improvement
in the economy, with family reasons and
marriage cited more frequently than a lack
of money. “The reasons behind why youth
migration has now decreased is because we see
Kurdistan is developing and progressing. Youths
are free, they can do anything. It’s not like in the
past.” Key Informant, Erbil
In Basra and Baghdad the amount of people who
no longer considered migration was so low that
they cannot say to be fairly representative. In
the key informant interviews however some did
14
Survey Results
explain that while some youth may have a
reduced desire to migrate;
”The percentage
of those who want
to emigrate out of
Iraq is significantly
decreasing due to
the improved
security
situation of the
country.”
Key Informant,
Baghdad
Q: Why do you no longer consider migration?
15
Q: Where do you want to leave to and why?
Most potential migrants just want to leave Iraq regardless of destination country
FGDs revealed that participants believed any location other
than Iraq would be preferable. Some however, had specific
ideas of prospective countries. When FGD and questionnaire
results were combined the most popular countries for
migration were the UK, America, Sweden, Germany,
Australia and Canada.
These countries were popular throughout Iraq with Norway
and Finland also being popular potential choices. The United
Stated (US) was preferred by those in Baghdad. Basra had
the UK as its top destination country, as did Erbil, Sulemanya
and Dahouk.
Of those surveyed 51% chose these five countries in their top
three destination countries due to the migrant already having
family or friends in that country. All chosen countries were
perceived to have better employment opportunities(10%) and
a more generous social security network than Iraq (5%) but
the presence of “human rights/ social freedoms” (17%) was
the most popular reason for choosing these countries, after
family connections.
In the FGDs the frustrations of young people were expanded:
16
Survey Results
Q: Why do you want to
migrate there?
2%
1%
1%
5%
5%
5%
18%
68%
Family Members Present
Social Freedom / Human Rights
Economy / Jobs
Government Provides Support
Education
Language
Standard of Living
68%
18%
5%
5%
2%
1%
1%
.
Terms such as respect, openness,
freedom, safety, rights and duties,
were mentioned in all governorates
more than job opportunities.
It seems that although family
connections are the main reason
for a single country’s popularity,
all countries chosen were done
so for a greater appeal of jobs,
social freedoms and social security
combined.
In the survey, government support
for asylum seekers was not
something that was associated
with the UK. Many countries such
as Finland, Sweden, Denmark
and Norway were said to be more
attractive to migrants. “Norway
and Sweden because they have
full freedom in every kind of life,
and give asylum rights easier than
other countries.” FGD Participant,
Sulemanya
Q: Where do you want to migrate to?
top six preferred countries
United Kingdom
32.74%
Canada
4.66%
l
Sweden
13.50%
Germany
9.11%
Potentia l Migrant
Australia
5.42%
= 5%
United States of America
16.31%
17
Q: Are you aware of their immigration rules?
Most migrants have little to no knowledge of the destination country
Results were clear in this question; most people
know very little about the country’s rules on
immigration but do have an understanding of the
climate for jobs and government support. Only 18%
of people living in the UK said they understood
immigration rules before they arrived. This was
underlined by FGDs in the UK. In an FGD in
Brighton one participant said “I didn’t know anything,
I just wanted to go anywhere. And even now that I
am in the UK, if I do not get any support here, I will
go to another European country.”
“There is no particular source of
information
for those thinking about
leaving, but it becomes a sort of
general knowledge
after so many people go abroad.”
FGD participant, Birmingham
18
Survey Results
“The UK is a country that
is most likely
to grant refugees asylums and is more
sympathetic
in their methods of
dealing with immigrants. In contrast, very
few people go to Germany.”
Key Informant, UK
In Iraq 52% of respondents said that they did
not know specific rules concerning countries’
migration rules. In FGDs most participants
could only express vague ideas such as “Britain
is good at granting asylum” (Basra FGD) and
“Europe in general takes people to get benefit
from youth’s ability” (Baghdad FGD). IOM
believes that the majority of the 48% who said
they did know of the migration rules, probably
only have a sense of the political climate
towards migration rather than specific laws.
Q: Are you aware of their immigration rules?
Respondents in the UK were asked if they knew the migration rules before
arriving to Iraq and respondents in Iraq were asked if they knew the migration
rules of their preferred country.
UK
Yes 18%
No 82%
IRAQ
Yes 48%
No 52%
19
Q: Who supports your migration, how and why?
Families in Sulemanya were the least supportive of migration
In the survey there were clear regional differences
in family support for migration. In Baghdad and
Basra families were very supportive of migration
however the views of participants living further North
were less and less positive than those further South.
Participants stated the main reason why families
were not supportive of migration was that children
were needed at home in a financial or caring
capacity. Although fear of travel and reservations
about the destination country were also present,
these were normally secondary to family needs in
reducing support for migration. In focus groups,
some potential migrants explained how their families
helped them;
“My uncle helped [financially]
but he also organised the whole journey for me.
My grandfather
sold some land
to help
me with the trip.” FGD Participant, Brighton
20
Survey Results
“When I left Kurdistan, I went with
smugglers. My family didn’t want me to
leave, because I was very young, but my
uncle came with me. The money
I used for the way was mostly mine,
but I had to
borrow as well. My
family also helped me out.”
FGD Participant, Birmingham
During FGDs in the UK, interviewees stated
that most families were said to be supportive –
supplying money and contacts in host countries.
Some however kept the move secret from their
parents and borrowed money from friends, or more
distant relatives. They also supplied migration
information, with 76% of respondents saying family
and friends were the first source of information,
with the internet being a distant second with 15%
and other media scoring only 9%.
Is your family supportive?
Q: Is your family supportive of your migration?
Baghdad
96%
4%
Basra
69%
31%
Erbil
63%
37%
Dahouk
55%
45%
Sulemanya
32%
68%
21
Q: What improvements would keep you in Iraq?
Improvements in job opportunities would reduce people’s desire to migrate
“KRG has good plans for
youth but
and basically
just to decrease illegal
migration. For example
we have a loans project
for youth.
enough
it’s not
We give
them money but
we don’t give
them vision. We
give them 15,000,000 IQD
but they say I will make a
small business and with the
other part I can get married
or buy a car.”
Key Informant, Erbil
22
Survey Results
The main reason given by interviewees
in all governorates apart from Baghdad
was the economy. An improved economy
was the main reason (33%) people
gave that would make them stay. When
looking at Baghdad the option that “no
improvement could keep me here” was
the most popular response with 38% of
respondents giving that answer. Whilst
in Basra and the North, a reduction in
corruption and improvements to social
freedom and services were cited as
reasons to remain.
Across Baghdad key informants,
some of whom were MPs, also put
job opportunities and the economy as
key reasons why they thought young
people wanted to migrate. They also saw
the importance of basic services and
education as key to young people’s
aspirations. In the North some key
informants stated that there were
already some programs targeting
young people.
“If we as a government cooperate
with IGO’s like IOM to send people in
groups to these countries to see their
culture, as well as having projects for
youth in IT, Sport, Culture and Media
we will bring up an educated youth.”
Key Informant, Erbil
One other key theme that came up
was the need to activate the social
security law. All across Iraq, people
talked about the full activation of the
social security law- which many people
herald as a potential cure for a lot of
problems.
“If government
showed a plan to
improve and sort out
all the many problems
(housing, jobs, public
services and education)
I could say that 100%
of the youth will not
think about immigration,
but now no one
has hope for this
government because
they have not got any
plan, even for next
month.”
Key Informant,
Sulemanya
23
Q: Perceptions on migration - how do people leave Iraq?
Smuggling is perceived as the main irregular way of leaving
Over 95% of people leaving Iraq are believed
to use Turkey as the point of departure from
Iraq, then Greece and then further into Europe.
Exactly where, is decided on by the smuggler
or by the contacts of the irregular migrant. The
original exit out of North Iraq seems very simple
and easy.
In the surveys conducted in the UK, 93% of
the irregular migrants interviewed had been
smuggled into the UK with only 2% entering
using forged documents. During one Returnee
FGD, some participants said that some migrants
had forged documents for parts of their journey.
One participant said: “He bought a Schengen
visa for $15,000, and after he arrived he hid
the passport and destroyed all documents and
handed himself to ask for asylum and told police
that he came through smuggling, he went to 9
countries and then settled in Norway.”
24
Survey Results
Survey respondents were also asked how they
could make contact with a smuggler. 71% said
that family or friends or some other intermediary
could organise it – evidence that smugglers are
well known and easily contactable. This was
reinforced during FGDs, especially the Returnee
FGD in Dahouk:
“Smugglers are a network that exists in every
country, every smuggler takes a group of
immigrants from one place to another and
handing them over to another smuggler, and so
on. There are addresses of special places where
“I did not even know
which countries we were
going through…we were not
supposed to ask.”
FGD Participant, Brighton
there are smugglers in cafes, certain
cities or certain hotels infested with
smugglers.” – FGD Returnees, Dahouk.
For the journey IOM heard many stories
of the dangers of travel, involving stories
of death, injury and police capture. The
UK participants in particular explained
some of how they got to the UK;
“I was taken in a car to Turkey, it is
so close, may be half an hour journey.
Then from Turkey I was put in a boatthose plastic ones- and taken to Greece.
The Greek border patrols caught us and
put me in prison in Athens for 7 days.
My uncle’s friend paid for me to be let
free and I stayed with him for 2months.
Then I was put in a lorry and taken to
the UK. I was dropped outside a petrol
station in Hove and went to the police
station. The whole journey took me 5
months.” FGD Participant, Brighton
Q: How do people leave Iraq?
2% 1%
16%
81%
Irregular/Smugglin g
Regular/Then apply for Asylum
Regular/U N
Irregular/Fake Document s
25
Q: Why do people leave irregularly and how much do they pay?
Irregular migration is cheaper, easier and faster, but above all it is possible
Most respondents said that necessity was the
reason that people leave irregularly but this
was closely followed by the idea that irregular
migration is much cheaper than regular
migration. In FGDs many participants also
pointed that
less than legally” (FGD Participant, Erbil). In
Baghdad most groups agreed that legal is
much better but that irregular can be “easier,
faster and less expensive, and you avoid a
lot of trouble with regard to complicated legal
procedures.”
When irregular migrants in the UK were
surveyed the average amount paid to smugglers
was just over $14,000. When compared to Iraq
most believed that the price for smuggling was
Of those irregular migrants in the UK only 15%
stated that they had to pay extra on the journey
26
Survey Results
and that all money was sorted out before
migration with half paid before and half after
they were successfully smuggled. Migrants
call a third party to release funds once they
arrive in their destination country.
When asked what happens when someone
does not pay most indicated that the
irregular migrant or the 3rd party are held or
threatened until the money is paid. the Majority
all said that by whatever means, smugglers
are nearly always paid.
“Immigrants who do not pay will be detained
until the transfer or delivery of money to
the smuggler, or the migrant will work for
the smuggler to pay the amount. If the
immigrant escaped from a smuggler in order
not to pay then they will fall into the hands of
other smugglers.”- FGD Returnees Group,
Dahouk
Why do people leave irregularly of regularly?
Q: How much do people
pay to leave irregularly?
Q: Why do people leave
irregularly?
$8,000
40%
37%
35%
Actual Cost:
Average paid by UK
irregular migrants
30%
Perceived Cost:
Average perceived
cost from potential
migrants in Iraq
20%
14%
14%
10%
0%
27
Q: Life in the UK - What do you expect in your new country?
Expectations are very different to reality
The majority of applicants had no specific
expectations of their potential new country and
quoted some general ideas of an improved or
better future. Out of the respondents, 59% had
vague expectations such as “change the situation
better” “live with stability” and “a better future”.
Very few people gave specific examples such as
asylum (13%), job employment (6%) and to study
(3%).
Most respondents in the UK said that their
expectations had been met by migration, with
over 90% agreeing that it had been on the whole
positive. However, a key clarification is that most
irregular migrants when interviewed had very low
expectations. During the FGD in Birmingham all
participants said they had “no expectations” but
more specifically one participant said;
“Life in the UK did not turn out to be completely as
I had expected it to be. Some aspects are worse
28
Survey Results
and some better. The best aspect of life here
is that everywhere and all the times you are
safe. I am happier here and never regretted
leaving.”
Most irregular migrants are surviving on
support from family, the government or
charities or were working illegally and open
to exploitation. Of the UK respondents only
22% said they were making any money at all
and 80% of those made less than 800 UKP
a month, roughly equivalent to minimum
wage. However, this money is made illegally
and many respondents fear being arrested.
Some also complained of mismanagement
of their case by the Home Office, with many
blaming their lawyers for the failure of their
asylum cases. Many of the key informant
interviews talked of the high levels of
stress irregular migrants are under and the
difficulties of living in “limbo”.
Q: Life in the UK - do expectations match reality?
without being legalised...”
“We have this joke; in Europe if you put a
card to the wall it will give you money”
FGD Participant, Brighton
FGD Participant, Erbil
“No matter how many relatives or friends they
have, or how much connection they have with
the country, they still experience an initial
sense of regret and disappointment.”
“People in the UK, live with happiness and
hope for future and a plan, but Iraqis live with
explosions and sadness, live with no hope
and far away from any kind of plan.”
Mr Muhedin, Key Informant, UK
“Cases of depression that
derive from loneliness, isolation
and lack of support are very frequent and are often
the result of this life style, especially those who
have left family in their home country.”
Mr Hawrami, Key Informant, UK
Key Informant, Sulemanya
UK
“I have excellent prospects, as
life in the UK is excellent, and
the life is good.”
FGD Participant, Basra
29
Q: Would you return to Iraq/UK?
Although return is unpopular, once returned many do not want to go back to the host country
In the UK, 87% of irregular migrants surveyed
would never consider returning. Opinions of
returnees in Iraq, however, differed. The following
quote by Mr Muhedin from the Kurdish Housing
Association in the UK sums up fears of return:
“Returning home after so many years, is also
seen as a failure and belittlement. Imagine a
person who has been bound (no study, no work)
for 10 years and goes home to see those in his
age category established in their job and family
lives and probably has had a chance to learn
English better than him. The sense of loss and
failure is huge.”
In Iraq, out of all returnees interviewed there was
a relatively even split between those who would
like to return to their destination country (44%)
and those who would prefer to stay in Iraq (47%).
However, in the FGD of returnees in Dahouk
however; “Everyone regretted to return and want
30
Survey Results
to immigrate again even if he died of hunger in the
Diaspora, and that if they migrated again they will
not come back.”
Large differences exist between returnee groups.
Further research into this topic could aid a better
understanding of the motivation for return.
“Never, never,
endure alienation,
do not obey the request
and pleas of the family
to return, but instead try
to integrate
with the community
abroad.”
FGD Returnees
Participant, Dahouk
Return
Q: Would you return
to Iraq?
Q: Would you return to your
previous host country?
8%
13%
43%
44%
87%
48%
YES
NO
I DON’T KNOW
UK
IRAQ
31
Q: What would attract you to return to Iraq?
Returnees feel they need more support
In the UK, 74% of respondents said that they
would not be attracted to return if a guaranteed
job was offered. Respondents said that the main
reason this would not be attractive is because
they did not leave for work reasons originally
(44%). In Iraq FGDs, however, more varied
types of programmes were discussed and job
support was said to be popular. “If the British
and Kurdish governments establish a guaranteed
scheme granting the returnees jobs, I believe
many would make the choice to return. People
want to work and provide for their lives. If they are
given jobs somewhere else than where they are,
they will go there.”- Key Informant, UK.
Also, in the returnee group from Dahouk many
members stated that they thought they would
get more help than they actually received and
all expressed that more assistance should be
provided. When asked, many wanted greater
32
Survey Results
support from the government especially
in regards to employment, housing and
education.
With regards to the wide range of packages
available, some returnees voiced concern that
some countries’ return packages were more
attractive than others. One Key informant in the
UK said;
“People are saying, ‘Why does IOM have
different packages and different incentives
from country to country’. For example in
Britain they were giving £2,500 here when
you get on the plane, and then when you go
back, the other £2,000 was going through a
very complicated project and procedure that
you have to start your own business but at
the same time people were going to France
because they were getting €5000 cash.”
33
Conclusions
• Many youth are frustrated with the lack of adequate employment and social freedoms and feel distrustful towards
authority. These are particularly prevalent in the North and are major push factors in their desire to migrate.
• Knowledge of migration is well spread but not well informed. Many people have anecdotal evidence of migration
successes and failures and not the reasons or circumstances around them.
• Irregular migration is a common and relatively well understood part of the migration dynamics and most people,
especially in the North, have some information about it.
• Smugglers seem easily accessible and smuggling people out of Iraq is very simple.
• Those irregular migrants who make it to the UK suffer from being stuck in limbo during asylum claims and challenges.
Without status life is difficult especially when leaving family in Iraq. Anecdotally, many are forced to work illegally.
• Return without status is generally seen as failure by the migrants, their families and communities.
• Most returnees expressed dissatisfaction with all aspects of their return and reintegration support, but mostly would
not attempt irregular migration again.
IOM’s survey uncovered some interesting trends
with regards to perceptions of migration. For many
the idea of migration remains very appealing.
Most young people surveyed had thought about
migration – for jobs, security or just a better way
of life. There is a large gap however between this
desire to leave and any real action towards it.
Many may ask friends and family about leaving
but only a small percentage have taken real steps
such as contacting a smuggler or officially applying
for travel documentation.
34
Conclusions
Knowledge of irregular migration is widespread
but mostly anecdotal. Most people know
someone who has migrated or tried to migrate
irregularly. It is seen as dangerous and much
less preferable to regular migration. Most
people don’t consider migration irregularly as
an option and many have tales of migration
going wrong. There are a lot of stories about
irregular migration and not a lot of facts.
When people do leave irregularly it is predominantly
through Turkey then Greece, with smugglers being
paid an advance before the journey and paid the
final instalment once they have reached their first
intermediate destination in Europe. Smugglers
seem to be widely accessible and the route out of
Iraq seems very simple. There was a significant
difference between Iraq respondents perceived cost
of smuggling and the actual amount UK respondents
reported paying. This however varied greatly with
some in the British focus groups citing as little as
$7,000.
Those interviewed during the FGDs, had mixed
responses regarding their time in the UK. All
complained of some level of loneliness, frustration
and uncertainty. Most however, want to stay in the
UK, even if their asylum applications are rejected.
Without documentation however they are stuck in
“limbo”. They cannot work, nor study and for some
this has lasted many years.
Returning to country of origin without the legal right
to enter and live in the host country is considered as
35
35
failure for most migrants. The money and time
sacrificed by the migrant and their family cannot
be recuperated. Most stay in the UK even after
they have been refused asylum multiple times
to try and recover this “sunk cost”. Those who
do return to Iraq, often experience significant
problems with reintegration.
During the survey, multiple returnees
complained of a mishandling of their return,
false promises by returning governments and
a feeling of abandonment. Many interviewees
stated that the return packages should be
more generous, and should come with fewer
restrictions. Some specifically criticised the
British return package for restricting people in
how the return package money could be spent.
In conclusion, there are strong migration trends
across Iraq with push and pull factors being
exerted on the youth. As certain parts of Iraq
become safer, the youth aspire to greater job
opportunities and social freedoms. Even as
Europe suffers from contracting economies
36
Conclusions
a move there still represents an opportunity
for these young people to experience greater
freedom and improved job prospects. For those
who travel and leave irregularly life can be
tough. Irregular and undocumented migrants
suffer psycho-social issues, exploitative work
environments and a lack of support from the
social services. Even in dire circumstances
such as these however, most irregular migrants
wish to stay in the UK or Europe. This is due to
the stigma of failing to deliver on a substantial
financial investment that has often been paid for
by their families.
Although Iraq’s future is less certain, Iraqi
Kurdistan continues to flourish, and as the
economy improves, the migration dynamics
of Iraqi Kurdistan are set to become more
complicated. The Kurdistan region already
hosts a large number of migrants from Pakistan,
India and Turkey. It is now a destination country
for migrants itself with people from the region
attracted by its security and prosperity. It also
remains an important country of return for
many Kurds across Europe. As other areas of
Iraq remain unstable, Iraqi Kurdistan may once
again become an area of refuge for another
wave of internally displaced Iraqis. Whatever the
future, migration must be a central pillar of future
planning for the regional and central governments of
Iraq and foreign governments.
37
37
Recommendations
management and planning.
• The Government of Iraq and the KRG must continue to work with regional and European countries to develop a mature
migration relationship.
• The Government of Iraq and the KRG must continue to recognise the importance of migration in future planning.
• There needs to be a better understanding of the needs of young people in Iraq, and action taken
to support their aspirations.
• In the UK and Iraq more accurate and independent information on regular and irregular migration must be
disseminated.
• The northern border of Iraq is very easy to cross and must be secured more effectively.
• Returnee packages need to be better designed, better understood and better evaluated.
• The Iraqi diaspora, especially in the Kurdish region, has a key role to play.
The Government of Iraq and the KRG must
continue to work with regional and European
countries to develop a mature migration
relationship. This relationship should recognise
and enhance the positive aspects of migration
whilst reducing the negative effects of irregular
migration. This must be done through dialogue,
information sharing and the application of
the existing migration mechanisms. IOM can
support the government to develop their capacity
38
Recommendations
to maximize the role of migration to support
development. To this end, IOM is encouraged to
see the increase in Kurdish government’s university
scholarships to the UK and the resulting cooperation
between the two countries on this issue.
The Government of Iraq and KRG must continue
to recognise the importance of migration in
future strategic planning. Governments must work
to make sure it can predict, manage and capitalise
detrimental effects. IOM works with countries
and ministries of planning across the Middle East
and North Africa region to advise them on the
consequences of different types of migration trends
and how best to incorporate these trends into
government forecasting from remittances to returns
of qualified nationals.
There needs to be a better understanding of the
needs of young people in Iraq and actions taken
to support their aspirations. With the exception
of the extreme security concerns in the south of
Iraq, many of the challenges faced by young Iraqis
today are reflected across the Middle East and
North Africa (MENA) region. However unlike in other
areas of MENA, in Kurdistan there are the economic
resources, civil society and international support
to meet these challenges. The demands of young
people, many of them outlined clearly in this survey,
must be listened to by their local communities and
governments.
In the UK and Iraq more accurate and
independent information on regular and
39
39
irregular migration must be disseminated. In
both the UK and Iraq a lack of information has
led to the misconception of migration as being
only a very positive or very negative experience.
The gap between these extreme scenarios
needs to better communicated to those potential
migrants so they can make more informed
choices.
The northern border of Iraq is very easy to
cross and must be secured more effectively.
The ability to police cross-border smuggling
across the Iraq/Turkey border is hampered
by the porous border between the two
countries. Integrated Border Management is a
key principle of the government of Iraq’s planning
for the future. IOM already works closely with
the Kurdish Regional and Central Governments
on migration management programmes and
hopes to extended and continue this relationship.
Returnee packages need to be better
designed, better understood and better
evaluated. Firstly, returnee packages must offer
40
Recommendations
a holistic, sustainable and attractive support for
returnees before, during and after return. These
should also be integrated and complimented by
local government and private sector support.
During the survey, returnees and key informants
criticised the amount of money offered to return
and the mechanism for collecting that money. For
host countries who believe that the act of return
is the end of their commitment to that returnee,
they may be underestimating the importance of
their continued involvement towards a sustainable
return. Return successes and failures quickly
spread throughout Iraqi communities at home and
abroad. If host countries want the option of return
to be attractive in the long term then they must
match this with continuing support.
Secondly, these return packages must be
advertised more widely and clearly explained
amongst the diaspora community. Return
packages are often treated with mistrust and
therefore must be transparent and positively
promoted by trusted sources.
Thirdly, this was not a survey on returnees,
and return packages. A more thorough
understanding of the attractiveness and
sustainability of return packages must
be developed. A thorough evaluation of
returns over the years and the different
packages that currently exist would be
extremely beneficial for the development of
future return packages.
The Iraqi diaspora, especially in the
Kurdish region, has a key role to
play. The Kurdish community in Europe
is very diverse but also very influential.
Recognizing the valuable work expatriate
communities can engage in to support
development of their home communities
as well as the potential for their further
engagement, IOM’s initiatives in the
region have aimed to partner with relevant
expatriate communities to support and
enhance their engagement in development.
This could and should be replicated in Iraq.
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41
Thank You!
IOM would like to thank the field teams across Iraq for their excellent support that allowed us to survey so
many people, so well, in such a short period. As usual the IOM monitoring and information management
teams are the pride of the mission and truly allow us to say we have the broadest and deepest footprint
across Iraq. IOM would also like to thank the authorities in Baghdad, Basra, Dahouk, Erbil and Sulemanya.
Without their support in this and many other projects, our teams would not be able to function as effectively
as they do. Finally IOM would like to thank the FCO for its support of this survey and we look forward to
continuing our work with the UK government in the future.
42
IOM Today
Today, IOM Iraq has over 300 staff working across all 18 governorates of Iraq. IOM has offices in
Erbil, Baghdad and Basra, over 20 sub offices and a supporting office in Amman, Jordan. The
intergovernmental organisation maintains established partnerships and close coordination with
local Iraqi authorities and various ministries. IOM has particularly close links with the Ministry of
Migration and Displacement (MoMD) and the Bureau of Migration and Displacement (BMD). It also
works closely with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) and hopes to build stronger
ties with other ministries at the central and local level.
With a monitoring and rapid response presence in all governorates in Iraq, IOM is the only agency
with such a broad footprint and experience of monitoring migration trends, supporting community
stabilization projects and providing emergency assistance since 2003.
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www.iomiraq.net
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