Iraq: Humanitarian Update No.3 Dec 2008 - Jan 2009

PROTECTION

Displacement

Returnee numbers for 2008 A total of 195 240 IDPs, or 32 930 families, returned to Iraq in 2008(1), compared to 36 000 individuals or 6000 families that returned during 2007. 25 000 individuals or 6360 families returned from abroad, bringing the total number of returnees to 221 260 individuals or 39 290 families. (2) According to UNHCR, a total of 974, 496 displaced persons have returned since 2003, including 577, 890 IDPs and 68 177 refugees.

Returnees lack basic services

The number of returns continues to increase, particularly to Baghdad.(3) Many returnees are coming back to find destroyed homes and infrastructure in disrepair. Buildings, pipe and electrical networks, and basic public services such as health care centers are all in need of rehabilitation to meet the needs of returning IDP and refugee families.

Some families wish to return but do not have the financial resources to travel with their belongings to their places of origin. MoDM has offered 500,000 Iraqi Dinar (IQD), or approximately 432 USD to IDP families returning from another governorate, and are offering 250,000 IQD for families returning within the same governorate. These offers were made between October and December 2008, and it remains unclear whether they will be continued in 2009.(4)

Various national and international NGOs have raised concern about returning IDPs' lack access to decent public services, including housing, as many displaced return to find their houses destroyed or looted. Iraqi NGOs calls on the UN for assistance to respond to the needs of the IDPs.(5)

IDPs returning to Mosul

The recent IDP crisis in Mosul has stabilized, with 1,325 of the 1,884 displaced families having returned to the City.(6)

Activities in support of returnees

During December and January 26 677, of which 38 % were women, benefited from PAC services, according to UNHCR. The beneficiaries included post-Samara IDPs (17,129), pre- Samara IDPs (1,349), refugee returnees (1,616), displaced refugee returnees (18) IDP returnees (4,862), refugees (332) asylum-seekers (15), stateless (1) and community members with specific needs (1,345). More individuals were assisted through a referral system to NFI and medical services. 7303 clients referred to Protection Assistance Centers (PACs), and PAC staff referred 9205 cases to service providers, NGOs UNHCR, MoDM, IRCS or another PAC.(7)

PACs assisted in the resolving of 19,101 cases(8) relating to basic rights, helped beneficiaries to access services (9,096), obtain documents (6,909), and positively resolved personal status, inheritance and documentation issues through court proceedings (3,005).

Examples of interventions conducted on behalf of the clients are assistance to register with competent authorities, to obtain various documents(9) to enjoy a wider spectrum of rights, basic services,(10) humanitarian/financial assistance, inheritance, property and land allocation, restitution, as well as marriage and divorce rights. Advocacy to stop evictions or to find alternative solutions for persons of concern, follow up on detention cases, prevention and response to SGBV and advocacy on rights of children were among the assistance activities undertaken.

A range of mobile team visits and protection monitoring assessment were also conducted, in order to assess the protection environment. The PACs also engaged in a number of workshops, briefings, information campaigns and media interviews in order to raise awareness about protection of populations of concern and in particular women and children.

IOM emergency distributions

In December, IOM warehouses released food and NFIs to IOM staff and NGOs for emergency distributions. The Baghdad warehouse stock is being distributed to 670 returnee, IDP and host community families in Baghdad and to 500 IDP families with handicapped members in Anbar. The Erbil warehouse stock is being distributed to 532 womenheaded families in Kirkuk and to schools (heaters) located in disputed territories in Ninewa. The Thi-Qar warehouse stock is being used in a distribution in the Basra governorate, where a local NGO is targeting 500 IDP families living in remote areas. All warehouses were being replenished in December with winter items, including several thousands of food baskets and several thousands of NFI baskets composed of 5 mattresses, 5 blankets, 1 carpet, 1 plastic sheeting and 1 heater. (11)