IRAQ
UNHCR IDP OPERATIONAL UPDATE
1-15 February 2015
KEY FIGURES
600,000+
HIGHLIGHTS
IDPs provided with shelter and core
relief items since January 2014
900,000
UNHCR and its partners have reached about 900,000 individuals throughout
Iraq, to determine needs, vulnerabilities, registration status, demographic
information and accommodation circumstances.
Winter kit distributions in the Central and Southern Governorates of Iraq have
now been completed, with a total of 20,000 winter kits distributed to 20,000
families, benefitting some 120,000 individuals.
IDPs reached through protection
monitoring
31,534
Families approved for cash
assistance
23,296
Individuals received special needs
support
53,000
People provided with legal
assistance
FUNDING
USD 405 million
requested for the operation
NB: This map reflects IDP figures as of 2 February.
More than
PRIORITIES
Registration and needs profiling
Increase access to legal assistance
Prioritize the most vulnerable
Reduce risk of SGBV
Provide essential CRIs
Winterization support
Service providers in camps
WASH facilities in camps
2,472,444 IDPs (Source: IOM-DTM 12 February, 2015)
Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Baghdad
Diyala
Najaf
Karbala
Babylon
Ninewa
Salah-al-Din
Anbar
Kirkuk
799,770
273,642
145,542
82,056
70,662
47,220
178,806
72,612
388,596
344,640
Excluding 59,500 IDPs in the five southern governorates, according to local authorities’ estimates.
1
UNHCR IDP Operational Update - Iraq
UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS
Operational Context
The estimated number of internally displaced Iraqis now exceeds 2.4 million, according to IOM’s Displacement Tracking
Matrix (DTM), accessible at http://iomiraq.net/dtm-page. The IDPs have settled in 2,744 locations across the country;
approximately 800,000 of them are in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I).
Across central Iraq, internal displacement continues, with limited access to the displaced. The on-going conflict in
Anbar Governorate is causing new displacement from Al-Baghdadi, Haditha, Ramadi and Fallujah. The population in
those areas is in urgent need of water, food and medicines.
The Iraqi Government forces airlifted some of the most vulnerable families from Al-Baghdadi to Baghdad, after the
siege of the area was lifted. UNHCR and its partners are meeting the displaced families upon their arrival to assess
their immediate needs and provide core relief items (CRIs), legal assistance, psychological counselling and cash
assistance for the most vulnerable.
The Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced that planning is underway to retake Mosul by the end of 2015.
The security situation in Kirkuk remains highly volatile, with reports of sporadic clashes between the progovernment forces and armed opposition groups (AOG) in many frontlines areas surrounding the city.
In Baghdad, attacks involving Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), small arms fire (SAF) and indirect fire (IDF) show
no sign of abating, causing many civilian casualties, despite the lifting of the curfew that had been in place since
2003.
Protection
In line with the protection cluster strategy, the monitoring teams of UNHCR and its partners have reached a total of
900,000 individuals throughout Iraq, to determine needs, vulnerabilities, registration status, demographic information,
and accommodation circumstances.
CAMP
Achievements and Impact
The WCHAN organization conducted an educational seminar in the Arbat IDP Camp, Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The
seminar discussed topics related to mental health, including
the mental illness continuum, stress, trauma, crises and their
effects on the individual, the family and the broader
community.
An operational briefing on participatory assessments was
conducted for UNHCR and partner staff. Participatory
assessments are currently being conducted in the Baharka and
Shaqlawa camps in the Erbil Governorate. The assessments
focus on safety and security, documentation, access to
livelihoods and community participation. Assessment results
will be used to inform UNHCR planning for 2016.
UNHCR continues establishing new committees in IDP camps
to foster community empowerment. The function of such
committees is critical to effectively address the needs of
women and children, the needs regarding water, sanitation UNHCR protection staff speaks with internally displaced
and hygiene (WASH), education, and other issues. These Iraqis in New Al Yawa camp/Aiden camp, Khanaqin. Dyiala
Governorate. UNHCR/M.Mahmoud
structures work in close coordination with the camp
management.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – www.unhcr.org
2
UNHCR IDP Operational Update - Iraq
In Khanaqin, Diyala Governorate, protection teams conducted several field visits to identify protection needs, gather
information on the protection environment and identify opportunities for intervention, as well as to follow up on
the IDP registration process, assist in issuing identity documents and provide legal assistance, as required.
Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps
During their visits to the New Al Yawa camp/Aiden camp and Old Al Yawa camp, Khanaqin, Diyala Governorate,
UNHCR protection staff noted that the lack of job opportunities and poor living conditions in the camps are of
particular concern to resident IDPs.
NON-CAMP
Achievements and Impact
A new central office of the Directorate of Civil Identity (ID) has been opened in Sheikhan, in northern Ninewa
Governorate. The central office established three sub-offices in Al Qosh, Zilkan and Zummar, which receive
applications from IDPs for the issuance of new or the replacement of expired or lost ID cards. The Ministry of
Interior has requested UNHCR’s support to open additional offices in
Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Governorates to ensure the IDPs possess valid
ID cards.
To date, 20,700 IDP families have received cash assistance from
UNHCR across Iraq, including 12,247 families in the KR-I and 8,453
families in the Central and Southern Governorates. A portion of the
cash assistance to families in the KR-I is being distributed in the
context of the UNHCR’s winterization strategy. In Dohuk Governorate,
500 vulnerable families were prioritized for cash assistance. The
identification of target IDP families in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah has
been completed and the cash distribution is on-going.
Mobile child protection teams of UNHCR’s partner, STEP, have been
providing recreational activities in several urban locations where IDP Distribution of CRI Kits for IDP families in Diyala
Governorate / UNHCR
families reside in the Governorate of Sulaymaniyah.
Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps
UNHCR and Qandil staff visited the Directorate of Violence against Women in Koya, Erbil Governorate. It was noted
that awareness-raising on domestic violence and women’s rights is a priority need. The lack of capacity for
psychosocial support and legal services for victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) was also raised.
In Erbil Governorate, a joint visit of the UNHCR Field and Community Services units was conducted to Megasor in
order to assess the needs of IDPs living in the area. Issues regarding the access of IDPs to registration, cash
assistance, education and food assistance still represent an area of concern.
Shelter and NFIs
As the inter-agency Shelter/NFI Cluster lead agency, UNHCR is implementing the national Shelter/NFI Cluster shelter and
winterization strategy, to complement the work of local authorities and other humanitarian actors in meeting the needs
of the most vulnerable IDPs throughout Iraq. Assistance gives priority to those people living outdoors, in sub-standard
structures, in colder climatic conditions, or with particular individual vulnerabilities.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – www.unhcr.org
3
UNHCR IDP Operational Update - Iraq
CAMP
Achievements and Impact
UNHCR has started the second phase of construction works in the Baharka IDP camp, Erbil Governorate.
Demarcation is complete and the casting of tent bases, latrines and kitchens is on-going.
In the Garmawa IDP camp, Ninewa Governorate, extension works are on-going, with the completion of the
construction of 845 out of a total target of 1,200.
In the Bersive 2 IDP camp, Dohuk Governorate, construction is complete for the rub hall, police, camp management
and UNHCR offices. UNHCR partners distributed 2,000 fire extinguishers in the Bersive 1 and 2 camps.
Kerosene distribution is on-going in different camps.
Construction of open channels, rub hall, offices and other structures is on-going in the Khanke IDP camp, Dohuk
Governorate.
Construction of concrete slabs has begun in the Shariya camp in the Dohuk Governorate; the total target is 3,000
slabs. 18 wheel chairs were distributed in the Shariya camp thanks to the contribution of private donors.
During the reporting period, UNHCR successfully distributed 1,950 CRI kits in districts of Diyala Governorate and
started another phase of distribution in Baghdad Governorate. In 2015, UNHCR has distributed a total of 5,028 CRI
kits to affected families in the Central and Southern Governorates.
UNHCR continues the rehabilitation works of 1,247 collective centres which are occupied by 4,835 IDP families in
central and southern provinces who fled from Mosul, Anbar, Diyala and Salah Al-Din.
UNHCR’s partner continues construction works to establish a new camp in Khanaqin, with a capacity of 512 tents.
Sewage works and WASH works have been initiated. The construction of the camp is 70% completed.
In Kirkuk, UNHCR assisted 78 IDP families living in Khalo Bazyani village by providing winterization kits.
Winterization Update
Phase one of the kerosene distribution (100 liters per family/month) was completed during the reporting period.
Phase two distribution is in progress. The provision of 2,000 winterization packages for IDPs in urban areas in Erbil
Governorate is on-going.
In Baharka camp, Erbil Governorate, 1,000 blankets, 600 mats, 317 tents (donated by the Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation - SDC, in addition to 317 winterization kits and 3100 XPS (polystyrene boards) were
distributed during the reporting period. A total of 300 kitchen sets and mats were provided to Harshm camp
residents, Erbil Governorate.
On 5 February, UNHCR and its partners (PARC and the International Rescue Committee) distributed 378 winter kits in
the Bozan and Shekhka villages in Talkaif district to internally displaced families.
In the South and Center Governorates of Iraq, winter kit distributions were completed, with a total of 20,000 winter
kits distributed to 20,000 families.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – www.unhcr.org
UNHCR staff distributed core relief items to internally displaced families. PARC/IRC
4
UNHCR IDP Operational Update - Iraq
Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps
Some 800 recently arrived families in Sulaymaniyah Governorate are being accommodated in tents.
During the reporting period, additional families fled to Baghdad due to the conflict. UNHCR is monitoring the
situation of IDP movements and conducting Rapid Needs Assessments to assess priority needs and target assistance.
NON-CAMP
Achievements and Impact
UNHCR distributed 100 litres of kerosene and five kerosene jerry cans per family at the Brazil Sport Centre, Erbil
Governorate, hosting some 212 families from Mosul.
Renovation of 11 schools in the Dohuk Governorate is on-going.
Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps
Constraints in access to the forcibly displaced populations, particularly in areas affected by armed conflict, and
funding gaps continue to be critical critical challenges for the sustained provision of shelter solutions and NFIs.
Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM)
Achievements and Impact
CAMPS
In the Erbil Governorate, the bi-weekly CCCM meetings were organized at the Baharka, Ainkawa Mall and Harshm
camps. UNHCR continues to support the Government and other stakeholders through this established mechanism,
which facilitates the flow of information, planning and advocacy.
In Dohuk Governorate, 15 IDP camps are currently hosting a total of 28,316 families comprising 168,056 individuals.
Relocation from urban locations to camps is on-going as these camps still have vacant shelter capacity for nearly
4,400 families/30,000 individuals. As part of their daily monitoring, field and protection teams continue to identify
cases and refer them to relevant cluster members to receive specialized services.
The Dohuk Governorate officially announced the establishment of the Board for Humanitarian and Relief Affairs
(BHRA) and identified the Executive Director, which resulted in the closing of the DMC and the Emergency Cell as
their functions are now incorporated into the BRHA. Headed by the Deputy Governor, BRHA will oversee all refugee
and IDP related activities in the Dohuk Governorate. The function of the Executive Director will be the daily
management and supervision other units/departments. Appointment of staff to various departments of BRHA is ongoing.
The NGO Consortium of ACTED, DRC and NRC received the green light to commence the Camp Management
Mentorship project. Under this project, 11 out of 14 open camps in Dohuk will be provided with support, mainly in
three areas of intervention– protection, community participation and information management.
CCCM Training for camp mentorship project staff was conducted in Dohuk, 3-5 February. The training gathered
around 25 participants from ACTED, DRC and NRC, and was facilitated by a CCCM trainer, with the co-facilitation of
DRC and UNHCR staff.
Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps
The constraints in registration remain one of the key gaps, affecting proper activities in camps and non-camp
settlements.
Since mid-November 2014, camp management is facing challenges with care and maintenance issues. The CCCM
Cluster, in cooperation with the WASH cluster in Dohuk, has noted technical problems in 6 camps (Chamishku,
Kabarto 1, Kabarto 2, Bardarash, Essian and Mamilian) mainly in the areas of WASH and site development, which
result in sub-optimal living conditions and limited access to services. The CCCM and WASH Clusters advocated with
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – www.unhcr.org
5
UNHCR IDP Operational Update - Iraq
the Government of KR-I to take up these issues with the Governorate Construction Committee, in order to
undertake repairs under the warranty obligations of the contractors. The CCCM Cluster and BHRA discussed the
need to set up up a temporary technical working group on Care and Maintenance across the camps to better
monitor and respond to issues related to maintenance, repairs and upgrades.
A Vulnerable Family
On 3 February, UNHCR met with Fatma during a cash distribution at a Protection Assistance and Reintegration Center
(PARC) run by UNHCR partner Qandil, in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I).
Fatma and her family were forcibly displaced from their hometown, Fallujah, due to last year’s conflict. Fatma is a
widow and has 6 children. They are currently living in a one-bedroom apartment in Erbil. The poor insulation of her flat,
coupled with sewage issues and insect infestation, is affecting the well-being of her family.
“Since winter started, our house has been flooded several times, and our clothes are constantly damp. To make matters
worse, the house is full of cockroaches and worms”, she recalls in disgust.
Cash assistance mainly aims to assist highly
vulnerable IDPs, and is provided after
conducting a household level assessment
aiming
at
identifying
particular
vulnerabilities. The purpose is to enable
such vulnerable IDPs to cover their
immediate needs. As part of the UNHCR’s
cash assistance programme, generously
funded by DFID, Fatma’s case met the
vulnerability assessment criteria, as she is a
single head of household, has six children,
out of which one suffers from acute asthma.
Fatma has very few opportunities to work in
Erbil and is struggling to live a dignified life.
When her husband passed away last year, it
took her over two months to obtain the
financial inheritance she was owed, while a An IDP collects the cash assistance vouchers in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
relative had to retrieve it for her from a UNHCR/N. Micevic
bank in Fallujah and bring it to her in person
in Erbil. Ever since Fatma found herself in this precarious situation, she has been trying to find alternative sources of
income in the informal economy. She makes bread to make a living, which her neighbours have been selling on her
behalf.
Despite the very bleak living conditions Fatma and her children are facing since they have been displaced, she remains
resilient and optimistic about the future. The cash assistance she received thanks to UK Aid, UNHCR and QANDIL, will
allow her to begin some essential renovation works in the house she has been living in with her family, thereby
improving her family’s overall quality of life.
The cash assistance provided to-date served as an additional help in securing a shelter that guarantees minimum privacy
and dignity and prevents protection risks, especially for women and girls. With the sustained support of donors, UNHCR
will continue providing unconditional cash assistance to the most vulnerable IDPs to address their immediate protection
and assistance needs, and ultimately, to instil a bit of hope in their traumatised lives.
Story by Natalia Micevic
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – www.unhcr.org
6
UNHCR IDP Operational Update - Iraq
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Total recorded contributions for the operation
amount to some
US$ 1.22 million.
UNHCR is grateful for the critical support provided
by donors who have contributed to this operation,
especially to those who have contributed to
UNHCR programmes with unearmarked and
broadly earmarked funds.
2015 Funding received (USD)
Switzerland
Italy
Private Donors
652,174
566,893
1,004
Contacts:
Natalia Micevic, Associate Reporting Officer,
[email protected], Cell +964 (0)780 091 93947
Vincenzo Lionetti, External Relations Officer,
[email protected], Cell +964 (0) 780 921 7338
For more information on the work of UNHCR and our
partners in Iraq, please follow us on Twitter at
@unhcriraq and on Facebook at “UNHCRinIraq” or
write to [email protected]
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – www.unhcr.org
7