Iraq: UNOPS-IDP Situation Report 29 Apr 2003

Highlights
The 3 northern governorates of Erbil, Dahuk and Sulaymaniyah have stabilised and life has more or less returned to how it was before the current conflict.

People from the northern goveernorates are able to travel to Kirkuk, Mosul and Khanaqeen and NGOs are conducting their humanitarian operations in these locations. As mentioned in yesterday's report the UN security phase in the northern governorates has been downgraded to Phase 4, which enables greater movement by UN personnel, thus facilitating project implementation in the field.

The assessment of the new IDP migration, conducted by the Joint Humanitarian Information Centre and UNOPS-IDP, as mentioned in yesterday's report, has now been finalised and will be published by UNOHCI shortly. This assessment only deals with those new IDP, who came about as a result of the current conflict.

While the great majority of new IDP have returned to their homes, the old caseloads of IDP have in general been slow to return to their places of origin in those areas previously under GOI control.

Humanitarian Situation

Erbil and Soran

UNOPS IDP has resumed the following activities in Erbil governorate, which were suspended as a result of the recent conflict:

• The vocational training courses in Erbil Technical Institute were resumed on the 19th of April. These courses include carpentry, welding, tinsmith, air-conditioning, TV/radio repair, rewinding electrical coils and domestic electricity and are being taken by 69 persons.
  
  
• The vocational training courses in Erbil Vocational Training Centre including carpentry, air conditioning, and domestic electricity were resumed on the 1st of April. These courses cater for 45 participants.
  
  
• The courses at Zheen Association for Disabled People were resumed on the 19th of April and include sewing and tailoring for 20 participants.
  
  
• The VINCENT Institute for Training of People with a Disability resumed training for 20 persons in the fields of electric installation, flower making, tailoring, and carpentry. These courses were restarted on the 19th of April and all participants attend literacy courses at the same time.
  
  
• The literacy courses at SACH Training for People with a Disability in Soran and Rawandouz were resumed on the 29th of March. There are 78 participants in these courses.

During the crisis period, the project continued with the following activities in addition to assisting new IDP, resulting from the conflict situation.

• The distribution of emergency relief items on a needs basis. Regular distribution has been stopped.
  
  
• The provision of potable water to Benislawa tent camp, the self-built settlement in Kasnazan and 5 returnees settlements in Soran.
  
  
• The provision of hygiene services to Benislawa tent camp.

The project is continuing to support the local authorities in Erbil in assessing the needs and trend of population movement in areas previously under GOI control.

Sulaymaniyah

Following the return to normal life in Sulaymaniyah, the project will resume the following activities on the 1st of May.

• The second round of hairdressing training in Jwankar Institution. The first group of 10 IDP trainees all completed their course successfully and received tool kits from the project to assist them in their future work.
  
  
• Training to be a tailor will restart in Rasty Institution for 10 IDP trainees from different IDP hard shelters.
  
  
• Bakrajo Industrial School will recommence its training in five different fields (electricity, general mechanics, electronics, car repair and minerals).

During the conflict period the project maintained its provision of potable water and hygiene services to Takya transit camp. The internal and access roads for the camp, which were started on the 18th of February, were completed on the 16th of March.

UNOPS-IDP together with Norwegian People's Aid are continuing work on the establishment of Biyara camp for those families affected by the recent conflict between the PUK and Ansar al-Islam.

Dahuk

UNOPS-IDP in Dahuk has resumed the following activities, which were suspended due to the conflict::

• The Gize project to assist in the return of IDP families, mainly female-headed households, to their village of origin, was resumed on the 19th of April. Based on an agreement as to the division of activities; Habitat will be responsible for the construction of the access roads to the village, while UNOPS-IDP will mobilise the IDP population to participate in the construction activities. The project documents for the construction of a Heath Centre, Social Centre, Water Project and Irrigation Canal were prepared prior to the conflict.
  
  
• The social and vocational activities at the Ziwa Center for youth-at-risk from IDP families were restarted on the 15th of April. These activities include music, painting, theatre and computer courses.

During the conflict the project continued with the provision of potable water to the Hetit, Deralok, Arab Singles, Moqble, Arab Kane-mase and Banda IDP settlements and in the management of the following IDP camps, Balqus, Deralok, Arab singles, Moqble and Baldesha

Following a request from the Internally Displaced Persons Liaison Office in Dahuk for tents and the construction of sanitation units for 15 families who intend to return to their village in areas previously under GOI control, the project contacted UNOHCI for guidance. UNOHCI will update the project as soon as they have the necessary details from the local authorities

The project has completed transferring the pre-positioned materials from Sarsink warehouse to the main warehouse in Dahuk.

Coordination Issues

Sulaymaniyah

UNOPS has requested UNICEF assistance in the provision of potable water to Biyara camp by linking the camp to the local water network

UNOPS-IDP met with the local authorities in Sulaymaniyah and discussed how to design a systematic approach to the resettlement process of the IDP.

Dahuk

A Habitat - UNOPS-IDP joint technical team will identify the exact requirements to assist those affected by the earthquake in the Akre region and to determine the respective implementation responsibilities.

Access/Protection Issues

N/A

Issues Requiring Follow-Up

N/A

Any Other Business

N/A

Additional Information

Table 1: Summary of registered new arrivals in the north from GOI territory

¹ Around 62% of the registered IDP that have been displaced from the GOI territories were hosted by relatives.

Out of 24 sites and shelters established for the accommodation of IDP from the GOI areas only 2 sites are remaining hosting a total population of 49 people. These 49 people have so far been unable to return to the centre and south for security reasons.