I . POST-FEBRUARY 22 IDP ASSESSMENTS: BACKGROUND
An alarming increase in displacement after the Samarra shrine bombing in February 2006 has highlighted the need for in-depth needs assessments of recently displaced populations. IOM conducts assessments in the central and southern 15 governorates, complementing the registration work conducted by other entities, such as the Ministry of Displacement and Migration.
IOM monitors use IDP Rapid Assessment Templates created in coordination with Cluster F (1) and the IDP Working Group. Monitors gather information from IDP MoDM, tribal and community leaders, local NGOs, local government bodies, and individual IDP families. Based on this information, IOM is distributing Iraq Displacement Assessments and Statistics reports, Governorate Assessment Profiles, and Displacement Year in Review reports.(2)
This information is assisting IOM and other agencies to prioritize areas of operation, plan emergency responses, and design long-term, durable solutions programs.
IOM's assessment efforts are ongoing; this should be kept in mind when reading statistics that are represented over time. Also, some statistics represent questions that allowed multiple responses.
II . IDP OVERVIEW
Percentages on map show distribution by district of the IDP population covered by IOM's assessment.
| Capital: | Ramadi |
| Districts: | Fallujah, Al-Qaim, Ramadi, Ana, Haditha, Heet, Al Rutba. |
|
Population (as per 1997 census): |
1,271,000 individuals |
|
Total IDPs post-Feb. 2006: |
10,638 families 63,838 individuals (estimated) |
|
Total IDP and IDP returnees pre-Feb. 22(3): |
42,903 families (this includes 38,000 IDP returnees) 257,418 individuals (estimated) |
1. Governorate Background
Anbar is Iraq's largest and most resource-poor governorate. It is located to the west of Baghdad and stretches from the capital to Jordan and Syria. The governorate forms part of the Sunni Triangle and its population is almost entirely Sunni Arab. Due to this religious makeup, it is also a haven to thousands of Sunni IDP families fleeing sectarian violence. Another large source of displacement within Anbar results from military operations and armed clashes due to fighting among and between tribes, MNF-I/IF, insurgents, and criminals. Ongoing clashes, widespread checkpoints, and regularly enforced curfews also affect monitors' activities. In addition, IDPs are increasingly reluctant to share information in interviews due to fear. IOM's assessments cover 10,638 families (4); average family size is 6 persons, yielding an estimated total of 63, 828 individuals.
2. IDP Entry into Governorate:
Local authority has not officially closed the governorate borders to IDPs; however, and armed groups who control certain areas and overall insecurity restrict IDP movement.
3. Ethnicity and Religion:
All IDPs assessed were Sunni Arabs.
Notes
(1) The UN Country Team cluster for IDPs, Refugees, and Durable Solutions, of which IOM is Deputy Cluster Coordinator.
(2) Available at http://www.iom-iraq.net/idp.html
(3) As per IOM's Phase II monitoring, December 2005
(4) The monitors use templates for both IDP groups and individual IDP families; therefore, information obtained from group templates applies to multiple families.