1-Summary on The Return movement:

Since the beginning of 2011, the number of the registered returnees with the Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) increased dramatically compared to the same period in 2010. Starting in April onward, the number was steadily increasing, reaching a peak in August but taking a downward trend afterwards although it still remained relatively high throughout 2012.

This increase could be attributed to different reasons, one such is the financial assistance granted by the Government, which has been increased from 1 million Iraqi dinars to 4 millions since April 2011. The relative improvement in security and services were yet other reasons for return, especially to the places that were conflict areas during the peak of sectarian violence in 2006 and 2007 like Baghdad, Diyala and Ninewa.

Since January 2011, 51,960 Iraqis were registered as returnees from Syria while the number for 2010 and 2009 combined was put at 29,135, according to UNHCR/MoDM-recorded statistics. During the same period, 22,195 Iraqis were registered as returnees from Iran while only around 11,905 returned in 2010 and 2009.

For IDP returnees across Iraq, the return rate remained higher than that of refugees (77% IDP returnees compared to 23% refugee returnees for the last 12 months). Baghdad was the main governorate of return for the last 12 months with 68% recorded for IDP returnees, followed by Diyala with 25%. No noticeable IDP return was recorded in other governorates such as KRG governorates (Erbil, Sulaimnaya and Dahuk), Najaf, Qadissyah and Muthanna Baghdad also saw the highest number of refugee return with 44% recorded in the last 12 months, followed by Karbala with 7%.