Iraq Situation: UNHCR Flash Update - 10 August 2017

KEY FIGURES

• 839,490 Internally displaced Iraqis verified as being currently displaced from Mosul and surrounding areas since military operations to retake the city began on 17 October 2016

• 589,299 IDPs, returnees and members of the host community from Mosul and surrounding areas assisted by UNHCR since 17 October 2016.

• 267,993 Individuals (55,575 households) impacted by military operations to retake Mosul since October 2016 are currently enrolled in ASSIST, UNHCR’s assistance tracking tool

• 3.3 million IDPs since January 2014

• 257,476 Iraqi refugees hosted in countries in the region, and

• 22,408 Iraqis received in camps in AlHassakeh, Syria since 17 October 2016

FUNDING

USD 578 million requested for IDPs and Iraqi refugees in the region in 2017

POPULATION MOVEMENTS

Displaced families continue to arrive in camps in Mosul. Between 4 and 8 August, 451 families arrived at camps east of Mosul and 358 families at camps south of Mosul. The majority of families had initially been displaced to east Mosul and had stayed with relatives or in rented houses until exhausting their savings. In addition, 31 families arrived at camps north of Mosul, most of whom had fled from Mosul in 2014 and have now been displaced again, from Zummar and Wana to the north and west of Mosul.

Increase in arrivals from Tel Afar. Between 6 and 7 August, approximately 100 families arrived to the Hammam al-Alil screening site, 25 km south of Mosul. Families had fled from Tel Afar and nearby villages fearing intensification of conflict.

Departures from camps have followed a similar trend over the last week. Between 4 and 8 August, 398 families departed from camps east of Mosul, citing the need to go back to their jobs and protect their properties. A few families left to get specialized medical care. 52 families departed from camps north of Mosul and 82 families from camps south of Mosul. The majority returned to their areas of origin with the remainder moving to other locations through sponsorship.

SITUATION UPDATE

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Lise Grande said aid providers are bracing for the possible evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians as Iraqi forces prepare for the “imminent” start of operations in Tel Afar, Hawiga, and districts in western Anbar.

RESPONSE UPDATE

The UNHCR-led Protection Cluster organised workshops on contingency planning for Hawiga. The workshops took place in Tikrit (Salah-al-Din Governorate) for 30 participants who reviewed scenarios, including planning figures and flight routes.

Partners identified protection risks of civilians fleeing the expected Hawiga offensive, and developed appropriate contingency responses.

UNHCR conducted protection assessments in Mosul. Over the last week, UNHCR participated in two missions to the Jadida, Hay Al-Amal and Risala neighbourhoods in west Mosul. During the missions, UNHCR assessed the shelter conditions, conducted protection assessments and monitored the distribution process for emergency shelter kits (ESKs) and seal off kits (SOKs) for returnee families.

Distribution of assistance ongoing in Mosul. Since July, UNHCR has assisted 681 IDP families with multi-purpose cash assistance in eastern Mosul. A total of 3,000 families (1,500 families in east Mosul and 1,500 families in west Mosul) will be provided cash assistance until the end of the year. Moreover, a total of 2,334 SOKs and ESKs have been distributed in Mosul since 20 July.

UNHCR completes electricity project in Chamakor, east of Mosul. On 06 August, IDPs living in Chamakor camp have started to receive electricity, which will be supplied to camp residents 10 hours a day.

UNHCR conducted a mission to villages in Makhmur (Erbil Governorate) to gauge return conditions. Aliyawa village has been cleared of mines and explosive ordnance. Although electricity is available, there is no public potable water in the village. Out of 125 families from the village who had been registered in Debaga camp, 45 have returned to the village and 23 have signed up for return. The mission also visited two other villages where mine clearance work is ongoing.