International organization: 79% of the displaced people of Nineveh, Kirkuk and Anbar do not want to

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[size=52]International organization: 79% of the displaced people of Nineveh, Kirkuk and Anbar do not want to return to their areas[/size]

[size=45]Translated by / Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]A survey conducted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) of displaced families in 12 locations in Anbar, Nineveh and Kirkuk governorates for the period from June to September 2023 to determine their needs for services, protection, health care and education revealed that 79% of them expressed their unwillingness to return to their areas of origin, indicating that the main reason for this is Their destroyed or damaged homes, the absence of services in their original areas, and their limited sources of income.[/size]
[size=45]The international organization’s report also indicated that there are approximately 100,000 people still residing in informal sites spread throughout Iraq. In addition, more than 500,000 people have moved to secondary displacement and often live in poor conditions with limited services, indicating that Displaced Iraqis face major obstacles in earning income and providing education for their children, and their lack of documents and civil IDs further complicates their access to services and the possibility of their return to their areas of origin.[/size]
[size=45]The report stated that since the end of the conflict with the terrorist organization ISIS in 2017, Iraq has been grappling with the transition from the stage of acute humanitarian needs crisis to the stage of sustainable development, as the conflict led to the displacement of 6 million people between 2014 and 2017, while progress was made with the return of 5. Millions of people have returned to their areas of origin, and about 1.2 million people are still displaced. Access to basic services remains a major challenge for all displaced people and returnees.[/size]
[size=45]Among the basic needs faced by individuals in displaced and returnee groups, the survey showed that 70% of them face challenges in obtaining basic services, and 73% of them indicated that their first need is support for their livelihoods, in addition to other needs of legal assistance to obtain civil documents, health care, and assistance from Other non-food items.[/size]
[size=45]The most common factors affecting the return of families to their areas were the lack of job opportunities in the area of ​​displacement, the inability to provide rent in the area of ​​displacement, and the difficulty of accessing basic necessities.[/size]
[size=45]Among the internally displaced population, 79% of them expressed their unwillingness to return to their areas of origin, and among the main reasons for this, 100% of them indicated that their destroyed or damaged homes were the main obstacle, while 82% of them indicated that the absence of basic services constituted the other obstacle in addition to Lack of income resources, which was 64%, and lack of basic civil documents, which was 45%.[/size]
[size=45]While the survey showed that 11% of families received eviction threats during the past three months. 6% of them reported that they had witnessed the problems of internally displaced returnees and host communities. Tensions between local communities include conflicts between internally displaced returnees that may have resulted from competition over resources, displacement issues, and disputes over land use, as well as tensions between clans at times.[/size]
[size=45]The survey also showed that 45% of individuals within their families lack civil documents, and these documents ranged from a nationality certificate, a unified card, or a civil status card, which are the most common cases of loss, and there are still gradual needs for documentation, and the International Rescue Committee and other partner organizations provide Its legal services are to facilitate these families’ obtaining citizenship certificates and civil ID cards, and then obtaining the unified card in the future. On the other hand, the international organization indicated in its survey that the issue of child labor is still a pressing issue, as 54% of those surveyed revealed that they are aware that school-age children are engaged in work during school hours. While 49% of them revealed that girls face challenges in constantly going to school, and one of the reasons for this is that families give priority to boys’ education and assign girls, in accordance with established social traditions, with household responsibilities such as caring for younger children and sick and elderly family members.[/size]
[size=45]Regarding the internally displaced persons returning to their areas of origin during the past year, the survey showed that 92% of them returned voluntarily, and their motivations for returning were multifaceted, ranging from restrictions imposed on movement in areas of displacement to the fear of detention. As for the positive motivations for return, the returnees spoke of improvement. The security situation in their areas of origin.[/size]
[size=45]The report also showed that some returnees faced another secondary displacement, and 29% of them expressed reasons related to sectarian and tribal issues, insufficient services, or security concerns in their areas of origin. The international organization indicates that secondary displacement processes increase the complexity of their situations, and this requires emphasizing the need for appropriate support mechanisms and protection measures.[/size]
[size=45]In April 2023, the rapid closure of Jadah 5 camp led to challenges for approximately 342 families. These families, most of whom were from Nineveh, Anbar, Salah al-Din, and Kirkuk governorates, returned or were displaced to areas within Nineveh. Many families were described as being headed by women. These families were forced to return to their original places or enter into secondary displacement, and many of them found that the quality of life inside the camp, despite its limitations, seemed better than their new circumstances. These challenges included destroyed homes, lack of basic services, poor infrastructure, and lack of food.[/size]
[size=45]Based on the many aspects and challenges that the international organization has seen, it recommends the need to focus on the main issues facing displaced families, including restricting access to basic services, especially livelihood support, legal assistance, health care, helping families obtain civil documents and legal services, and paying attention. On the subject of social cohesion and coexistence and the need for additional support to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities, stressing the pivotal role of humanitarian organizations in confronting these challenges, improving access to services, and strengthening social cohesion efforts for a safer and more resilient future in Iraq and enhancing their stability and coexistence in the long term.[/size]
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