Iraq experienced various waves of internal displacement due to conflict, sectarian violence and forced population movements. The bombing of the Al-Askari Shrine in Samarra on February 22, 2006 triggered sectarian violence which quickly escalated and marked the beginning of new displacements. In 2006 alone, around 1,019,000 people fled their homes and became internally displaced.
From 2008, following the relative improvement of the security situation, many internally displaced persons (IDPs) started returning to their places of origin. Between 2008 and 2011 557,550 individuals returned to theirs homes. However, despite the steady returns, over 1,3 million Iraqis (or 235,586 families) are still at present not able to go back to their homes, either because of the remaining volatile security situation or because their houses have been destroyed or damaged. Baghdad hosts the largest number of IDPs, with some 358,457 persons (or 62,374 families) who either live with family members, in rented accommodations, in informal settlements or in public buildings.
An estimated 467,565 persons – comprised of IDPs, returnees and squatters - remain in more than 382 settlements throughout the country, with 148,483 persons living in 121 settlements in the capital, on public land or public buildings. These people face very harsh living conditions and are in addition at threat of eviction at any moment by the authorities as they are illegally occupying land.