IRAQ UNHCR IDP OPERATIONAL UPDATE

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1 IRAQ UNHCR IDP OPERATIONAL UPDATE June 2015 KEY FIGURES 849,419 IDPs provided with shelter and core relief items since January ,294,500 IDPs reached through protection monitoring since January 2014 HIGHLIGHTS Mr. Bruno Geddo, the new UNHCR Representative in Iraq, conducted his first mission to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I) and Kirkuk, during which he visited refugees and IDPs in camps and urban locations, and met with local authorities and key UN counterparts. Ashti Camp in Sulaymaniah Governorate was officially inaugurated by the Governor of Sulaymaniah and the UNHCR Representative in Iraq. The new camp offers IDPs a household-level shower/latrine and kitchen. As of 30 June, more than 198 families had moved to Ashti Camp. 30,000 Individuals received special needs support since January ,200 People provided with legal assistance since January 2014 FUNDING USD 405 million requested for the operation in 2015 A child stands outside his tent in the Arbat IDP Camp near Sulaymaniyah, Iraq on June 25, 2015 Residents of the camp struggle to cope with high temperatures while water is in short supply, electricity is intermittent and the sanitation system is adequate. (UNHCR/E. Ou) PRIORITIES More than 3,112,914 people of concern (Source: IOM-DTM Round XXIV 2 July, 2015). There are about 77,148 IDPs in the five southern governorates according to local authorities, not included below. Registration and needs profiling Increase access to legal assistance Prioritize the most vulnerable Reduce risk of SGBV Provide essential shelter and NFIs WASH facilities in camps 1

2 UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS Operational Context According to IOM s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), the estimated number of internally displaced Iraqis now exceeds million, spread across more than 3,613 locations countrywide. Conflict and violence in the central and western governorates of Iraq is on-going. In Anbar Governorate, displacement continued due to conflict near Ramadi, Fallujah and al-baghdadi. Access to safety for Anbar IDPs remains a challenge and many families have fled via highly insecure routes to Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I) due to deteriorating conditions within Anbar. In Fallujah and Heet, in Anbar Governorate, armed insurgents have prevented families from leaving unless they pay or leave property as a guarantee of their return. Other areas within Anbar are becoming increasingly unsafe due to the expansion of the conflict. The access point between Anbar and Baghdad, the Bzeibiz Bridge, remained open only for those with a sponsor living in the capital. Other governorates remained inaccessible to IDPs from Anbar, including Sulaymaniyah, Kerbala, Najaf and Babylon governorates. Registration by the Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) for new IDPs has been suspended in some locations. Returns to Tikrit in Salah al-din Governorate have been taking place since 15 June, organized by the Salah al-din Provincial Council in coordination with MoDM and the Ministry of Transportation, and more families are scheduled to return in the coming weeks, also to Dour and Al-Alam. Substantive rehabilitation of infrastructure is needed, as well as restoration of basic services. Severe IED contamination was reported and many houses have been fully or partially destroyed or looted. The only hospital in Tikrit was completely destroyed as a result of military operations, while there is no other clinic open, and only a few food stores are open. Stronger presence of governmental and humanitarian actors is required to address the needs of returnees. Families returning to areas of origin after the withdrawal of armed groups often remain vulnerable as they face a lack of livelihood opportunities, destruction of property, contamination by explosive remnants of the conflict, limited availability of food and non-food items, documentation problems as well as poor access to health, clean water and education. UNHCR and the UN humanitarian country team do not encourage organized voluntary returns of IDPs in view of the continued absence in many locations of protection conditions conducive to return. However, support is provided to spontaneous IDP returnees whenever it is safe to do so. 2

3 Protection The monitoring teams of UNHCR and its partners have reached more than 1.2 million individuals throughout Iraq since January 2014, in order to determine needs, vulnerabilities, registration status, demographic information, and accommodation circumstances. CAMP In Missan Governorate, the Protection Assistance and Reintegration Centers (PARC) mobile teams continue their visits to Missan IDP Camp to assess needs and gather information on the protection environment, and in coordination with the Directorate of Health to improve support to children with health problems. The women s centre in Arbat and Qoratu camps, in Sulaymaniah Governorate, received women on a daily basis, benefitting 345 women in those two camps to date. In Kabarto camps 1 and 2 in Duhok Governorate, UNHCR partners trained 71 camp committee members on hygiene promotion and diarrheal prevention. Freedom of movement is a concern for IDPs residing in Arbat Camp in Sulaymaniah Governorate, limiting their access to courts, hospitals and public services. Furthermore, the IDP families continue to face problems related to the camp septic system. The camp also suffers from an irregular electricity flow and is lacking a backup generator. At Qoratu Camp in Sulaymaniah Governorate, a focus group discussion with women and girls from Anbar and Diyala identified gaps including insufficient food rations for large families, long distances to fetch water and a lack of livelihood opportunities. Participants requested income generating activities, vocational training and literacy classes. Additional health services are required for the pregnant women in the camp. NON-CAMP UNHCR protection staff and partners conducted protection monitoring assessments for 2,179 families across Iraq to identify vulnerable families in need of legal assistance, cash assistance, and referral to other services. The Interagency Call Center was launched on 30 June. The call centre will receive calls from IDPs all over Iraq, requesting information on available services and to lodge complaints. The call center was piloted in Erbil and will be expanded countrywide. UNHCR s protection partner was the first humanitarian actor to visit Tikrit, in Salah al Din Governorate on 28 June and needs assessments were conducted for 2,118 returnee families. UNHCR partners in Salah al Din Governorate assisted the host community, IOM and MoDM to distribute food and basic materials to more than 116 female-headed households and another 800 families. In Dohuk Governorate, UNHCR finalized service mapping and profiling in 375 informal settlements in which 78,745 families (428,057 individuals) were identified, representing nearly 70% of the governorate s IDP population. UNHCR partners successfully advocated with IDP committees before the Water Directorate in Ameriyat al-fallujah, on access to water for 100 displaced families. An initial contamination survey was launched in the areas of Zummar, Sunini and Rabia, in Dohuk Governorate, to assess IED contamination in approximately 140 villages. On 22 June, UNHCR partners advocated for free movement of 41 newly displaced families from Anbar, Mosul, Salah al-din and Kirkuk who were stuck at the Kerbala checkpoint. UNHCR partners in Kerbala conducted three workshops for 50 beneficiaries on access to legal assistance. A women s centre opened in Koya, in Erbil Governorate, funded by UNHCR and operated by partners. The inauguration included a session on birth registration. The centre will provide psychosocial support, livelihoods training, legal support and social support for women and girls at risk of SGBV in the local community. 3

4 In Erbil Governorate UNHCR trained partner staff on the interagency referral form for IDPs and refugees. In Kirkuk Governorate, IDPs from Diyala Governorate may have to return to their place of origin if they do not have sponsorship documents. UNHCR has received reports of arrests of IDPs without documentation, they were released shortly after. UNHCR is monitoring the situation. In Duhok Governorate UNHCR identified 23 families at risk of eviction in Zakho, Sheikhan and Duhok. Some live in unfinished buildings, but most live with host families. UNHCR is counselling families on the option to relocate to a camp, as well as exploring other options for assistance. The Kulajo checkpoint in Kalar, Sulaymaniyah Governorate remained closed to new IDPs. Freedom of movement is a concern for IDPs in Khurmal, in Sulaymaniah Governorate. IDPs must inform local security authorities before movements. Shelter and NFIs As the inter-agency Shelter/NFI Cluster lead agency, UNHCR continued to promote the implementation of the national Shelter/NFI Cluster shelter strategy, complementing the work of local authorities and other humanitarian actors in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable IDPs throughout Iraq. Those prioritised for assistance include people living outdoors, in sub-standard structures, or with particular vulnerabilities. CAMP In Kirkuk Govenorate, the Laylan Camp expansion is on-going. UNHCR partners have completed 495 of the 504 concrete bases for shelters, 98% of the construction of 126 kitchens, 85% of the electrical work, and 865 meters of 1000 meters of fencing. UNICEF is expected to install water storage tanks and to ensure the provision of electricity in the camp extension. In Sulaymaniah Governorate, Ashti Camp officially opened on 29 June. Phase 1 of the camp is completed and will accommodate 618 families to be relocated from Arbat IDP camp. The first phase of relocation will be completed by mid-july. Phase 2 of Ashti Camp is expected to be completed in early August and will accommodate 420 additional families. In Sulaymaniah Governorate, Arbat IDP Camp is UNHCR summerisation in Rwanga community (UNHCR/ S. Gamma) crowded and in need of major renovations. To further decongest the camp, UNHCR requested additional land near Ashti Camp to accommodate an additional 1,000 families and is proposing to renovate Arbat IDP Camp. UNHCR is working on site planning for both areas. In Bersive 1 Camp in Dohuk Governorate families need concrete slab foundations for tents. Also, in Dohuk Governorate, an additional 350 shelters for Khanke Camp are needed to relocate families currently living in substandard conditions in the informal settlements. Distribution points and shaded areas are needed in Essian, Sheikhan and Mamilian camps in Dohuk Governorate. 4

5 UNHCR Progresses with the Summerization Programme With temperatures reaching 50c throughout Iraq, UNHCR continues to assist vulnerable IDP families to cope with the heat through distributions of fans, supplemental water jerry cans, and sleeping mats. In 2015, UNHCR and partners have distributed summarization items to the following IDPs: o 4,246 families (25,446 people) in Sulaymaniah Governorate; o 9,500 families (about 57,000 people) across Erbil Governorate; and, o 17,582 families (about 105,492 people) across Dohuk Governorate. In Qoratu Camp, 14 communal shade structures were constructed as well as shade for registration, camp partners and the police. UNHCR will distribute summerization items in 13 camps in Dohuk Governorate. Summerization items will also be distributed to non-camp IDPs based on resource availability. Many families living in tents and substandard conditions still need summerization items, however resources are lacking. NON-CAMP In Kirkuk Governorate, UNHCR distributed core relief items to 764 IDP families in Omar Bin Al-Khatab village-daquq, Tuz Khormato and surrounding villages, as well as in Kirkuk city. UNHCR is conducting vulnerability assessments to carry out further distributions. IDPs continue to arrive in Erbil. 443 vulnerable IDP families were identified and provide core relief items. In Zakho, Dohuk Governorate, UNHCR and partners conducted a joint shelter assessment targeting families with specific needs and in urgent need for shelter rehabilitation. Fifteen buildings were visited of which 11 buildings were approved for rehabilitation. A considerable number of IDP families continue to live in substandard shelters with limited access to available basic services. UNHCR has spearheaded discussion with NFI/Shelter Cluster partners to develop non-camp shelter intervention strategies for this population. CAMPS Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) The UNHCR Representative in Iraq visited Laylan Camp in Kirkuk Governorate and met with IDPs, community leaders and camp management. They discussed challenges the IDPs have been facing such as coping in the summer heat, shelter conditions, need for food and hygiene kits, the absence of livelihood opportunities, and the high number of persons with special needs, medical problems, need for financial assistance. UNHCR will provide one-time cash assistance for Laylan Camp residents, and will facilitate installation of latrines for persons with special needs. The CCCM Cluster is inviting the government engineering and planning department to participate in the next cluster meeting to discuss space allocation for agencies wanting to work in a new caravan camp to be established by the authorities in Surdesh, Sulaymaniah Governorate. The first phase of the camp for 400 families is expected to be completed by late August or early September. NON-CAMP UNHCR and the CCCM Cluster currently offer mentorship support to camp management in 13 of 16 camps in Dohuk Governorate. CCCM focal points offer technical and coordination support to government camp management staff. 5

6 STORIES FROM THE FIELD Battling Illness with Nothing but Patience Duhok City, 24 June 2015 (UNHCR) Seventeen-year-old Ayad knew that his health was in danger when he started feeling dizzy, partially losing sight, and eventually collapsing unconscious. Eleven month ago, Ayad had a normal life as a teenager in his home town of Sinjar, before the situation became untenable and his family had to leave. So they left and found shelter in an unfinished house in Zakho of Duhok Governorate. We had nothing, I mean nothing really when we arrived here, says Ayad, But the people of Zakho were so generous and welcoming and provided us with almost all the basic needs. Ayad was stressed because of the circumstances of his displacement. Shortly after arriving in Zakho he started feeling pain, getting headaches, slowly losing his sight and at some point he fell unconscious. His older brother, Dawood, managed to quickly take him to the nearest medical clinic in Zakho where they referred him to Duhok Hospital, arriving there at three in the morning. They did X-rays and transferred us to the specialist who later identified my brother s problem: a tumor in his head, says Dawood sadly. The doctors gave him medicine to take regularly for now. Ayad and his family are poor. They are not able to deal with the medical costs that came along with the illness. For the first four months, Ayad took four different types of drugs costing around IRQ 50,000 (about USD 44), including transportation from Zakho to Duhok every Saturday, paying IRQ 40,000 (about USD 35). Although parts of the medications are given for free at the hospital, we have to pay for the rest, the X-rays alone are done every month for IQD 75,000 followed by an injection drug for IQD 25,000, says Dawood. Ayad and his brother Dawood now owe about USD 1,700 as they borrowed from family and friends. The shack they found in an unfinished construction site barely accommodates them with their brother, sister and mother. Dawood s wife and three children also share the shelter. They are not worried about food at the moment because they receive rations from NGOs. I would like to send a message out there that we have been struggling with the medical bills of my brother for the past seven months and we had to skip our last appointment because we are short of money. We want free medical care, says Dawood. Ayad s case was referred to UNHCR s Community Services team for possible cash assistance. By Husam Eldin Mustafa Ayad and Dawood with a bag full of medical receipts and some drugs. They found shelter in an unfinished building in Zakho after surviving the attacks of armed groups, but Ayad s illness brought more challenges. The brothers hope to receive assistance to cover the medical expenses and pay off debt. (UNHCR/H. Suliman) 6

7 FINANCIAL INFORMATION Total recorded contributions for the operation amount to some US$ 35.1 million UNHCR is grateful for the critical support provided by donors who have contributed to this operation, especially to those who have contributed to UNHCR programmes with unearmarked and broadly earmarked funds. Funding received in 2015 (USD) JAPAN 17,310,000 UK 7,633,588 GERMANY 4,241,782 NORWAY 2,644,803 European Union 816,995 Private Donors 679,018 SWITZERLAND 652,174 ITALY 566,893 FRANCE 500,000 SPAIN 130,719 Contacts: Natalia Micevic, Associate Reporting Officer, Cell +964 (0) Kathryn Lo, Associate Field Officer, Cell +964 (0) For more information on the work of UNHCR and our partners in Iraq, please follow us on Twitter and on Facebook at UNHCRinIraq or write to 7