1-15 February 2015 HIGHLIGHTS. NB: This map reflects IDP figures as of 2 February.

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1 IRAQ UNHCR IDP OPERATIONAL UPDATE 1-15 February 2015 KEY FIGURES 600,000+ IDPs provided with shelter and core relief items since January ,000 IDPs reached through protection monitoring HIGHLIGHTS UNHCR and its partners have reached about 900,000 individuals throughout Iraq, to determine needs, vulnerabilities, registration status, demographic information and accommodation circumstances. Winter kit distributions in the Central and Southern Governorates of Iraq have now been completed, with a total of 20,000 winter kits distributed to 20,000 families, benefitting some 120,000 individuals. 31,534 Families approved for cash assistance 23,296 Individuals received special needs support 53,000 People provided with legal assistance FUNDING USD 405 million requested for the operation NB: This map reflects IDP figures as of 2 February. PRIORITIES Registration and needs profiling Increase access to legal assistance Prioritize the most vulnerable Reduce risk of SGBV Provide essential CRIs Winterization support Service providers in camps WASH facilities in camps More than 2,472,444 IDPs (Source: IOM-DTM 12 February, 2015) Kurdistan Region of Iraq Baghdad Diyala Najaf Karbala Babylon Ninewa Salah-al-Din Anbar Kirkuk 273, ,542 82,056 70,662 47,220 72, , , , ,770 Excluding 59,500 IDPs in the five southern governorates, according to local authorities estimates. 1

2 UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS Operational Context The estimated number of internally displaced Iraqis now exceeds 2.4 million, according to IOM s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), accessible at The IDPs have settled in 2,744 locations across the country; approximately 800,000 of them are in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I). Across central Iraq, internal displacement continues, with limited access to the displaced. The on-going conflict in Anbar Governorate is causing new displacement from Al-Baghdadi, Haditha, Ramadi and Fallujah. The population in those areas is in urgent need of water, food and medicines. The Iraqi Government forces airlifted some of the most vulnerable families from Al-Baghdadi to Baghdad, after the siege of the area was lifted. UNHCR and its partners are meeting the displaced families upon their arrival to assess their immediate needs and provide core relief items (CRIs), legal assistance, psychological counselling and cash assistance for the most vulnerable. The Prime Minister Haider al-abadi has announced that planning is underway to retake Mosul by the end of The security situation in Kirkuk remains highly volatile, with reports of sporadic clashes between the progovernment forces and armed opposition groups (AOG) in many frontlines areas surrounding the city. In Baghdad, attacks involving Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), small arms fire (SAF) and indirect fire (IDF) show no sign of abating, causing many civilian casualties, despite the lifting of the curfew that had been in place since Protection In line with the protection cluster strategy, the monitoring teams of UNHCR and its partners have reached a total of 900,000 individuals throughout Iraq, to determine needs, vulnerabilities, registration status, demographic information, and accommodation circumstances. CAMP The WCHAN organization conducted an educational seminar in the Arbat IDP Camp, Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The seminar discussed topics related to mental health, including the mental illness continuum, stress, trauma, crises and their effects on the individual, the family and the broader community. An operational briefing on participatory assessments was conducted for UNHCR and partner staff. Participatory assessments are currently being conducted in the Baharka and Shaqlawa camps in the Erbil Governorate. The assessments focus on safety and security, documentation, access to livelihoods and community participation. Assessment results will be used to inform UNHCR planning for UNHCR continues establishing new committees in IDP camps to foster community empowerment. The function of such committees is critical to effectively address the needs of women and children, the needs regarding water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, and other issues. These structures work in close coordination with the camp management. UNHCR protection staff speaks with internally displaced Iraqis in New Al Yawa camp/aiden camp, Khanaqin. Dyiala Governorate. UNHCR/M.Mahmoud 2

3 In Khanaqin, Diyala Governorate, protection teams conducted several field visits to identify protection needs, gather information on the protection environment and identify opportunities for intervention, as well as to follow up on the IDP registration process, assist in issuing identity documents and provide legal assistance, as required. During their visits to the New Al Yawa camp/aiden camp and Old Al Yawa camp, Khanaqin, Diyala Governorate, UNHCR protection staff noted that the lack of job opportunities and poor living conditions in the camps are of particular concern to resident IDPs. NON-CAMP A new central office of the Directorate of Civil Identity (ID) has been opened in Sheikhan, in northern Ninewa Governorate. The central office established three sub-offices in Al Qosh, Zilkan and Zummar, which receive applications from IDPs for the issuance of new or the replacement of expired or lost ID cards. The Ministry of Interior has requested UNHCR s support to open additional offices in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Governorates to ensure the IDPs possess valid ID cards. To date, 20,700 IDP families have received cash assistance from UNHCR across Iraq, including 12,247 families in the KR-I and 8,453 families in the Central and Southern Governorates. A portion of the cash assistance to families in the KR-I is being distributed in the context of the UNHCR s winterization strategy. In Dohuk Governorate, 500 vulnerable families were prioritized for cash assistance. The identification of target IDP families in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah has been completed and the cash distribution is on-going. Mobile child protection teams of UNHCR s partner, STEP, have been providing recreational activities in several urban locations where IDP families reside in the Governorate of Sulaymaniyah. Distribution of CRI Kits for IDP families in Diyala Governorate / UNHCR UNHCR and Qandil staff visited the Directorate of Violence against Women in Koya, Erbil Governorate. It was noted that awareness-raising on domestic violence and women s rights is a priority need. The lack of capacity for psychosocial support and legal services for victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) was also raised. In Erbil Governorate, a joint visit of the UNHCR Field and Community Services units was conducted to Megasor in order to assess the needs of IDPs living in the area. Issues regarding the access of IDPs to registration, cash assistance, education and food assistance still represent an area of concern. Shelter and NFIs As the inter-agency Shelter/NFI Cluster lead agency, UNHCR is implementing the national Shelter/NFI Cluster shelter and winterization strategy, to complement the work of local authorities and other humanitarian actors in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable IDPs throughout Iraq. Assistance gives priority to those people living outdoors, in sub-standard structures, in colder climatic conditions, or with particular individual vulnerabilities. 3

4 CAMP UNHCR IDP Operational Update - Iraq UNHCR has started the second phase of construction works in the Baharka IDP camp, Erbil Governorate. Demarcation is complete and the casting of tent bases, latrines and kitchens is on-going. In the Garmawa IDP camp, Ninewa Governorate, extension works are on-going, with the completion of the construction of 845 out of a total target of 1,200. In the Bersive 2 IDP camp, Dohuk Governorate, construction is complete for the rub hall, police, camp management and UNHCR offices. UNHCR partners distributed 2,000 fire extinguishers in the Bersive 1 and 2 camps. Kerosene distribution is on-going in different camps. Construction of open channels, rub hall, offices and other structures is on-going in the Khanke IDP camp, Dohuk Governorate. Construction of concrete slabs has begun in the Shariya camp in the Dohuk Governorate; the total target is 3,000 slabs. 18 wheel chairs were distributed in the Shariya camp thanks to the contribution of private donors. During the reporting period, UNHCR successfully distributed 1,950 CRI kits in districts of Diyala Governorate and started another phase of distribution in Baghdad Governorate. In 2015, UNHCR has distributed a total of 5,028 CRI kits to affected families in the Central and Southern Governorates. UNHCR continues the rehabilitation works of 1,247 collective centres which are occupied by 4,835 IDP families in central and southern provinces who fled from Mosul, Anbar, Diyala and Salah Al-Din. UNHCR s partner continues construction works to establish a new camp in Khanaqin, with a capacity of 512 tents. Sewage works and WASH works have been initiated. The construction of the camp is 70% completed. In Kirkuk, UNHCR assisted 78 IDP families living in Khalo Bazyani village by providing winterization kits. Winterization Update Phase one of the kerosene distribution (100 liters per family/month) was completed during the reporting period. Phase two distribution is in progress. The provision of 2,000 winterization packages for IDPs in urban areas in Erbil Governorate is on-going. In Baharka camp, Erbil Governorate, 1,000 blankets, 600 mats, 317 tents (donated by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation - SDC, in addition to 317 winterization kits and 3100 XPS (polystyrene boards) were distributed during the reporting period. A total of 300 kitchen sets and mats were provided to Harshm camp residents, Erbil Governorate. On 5 February, UNHCR and its partners (PARC and the International Rescue Committee) distributed 378 winter kits in the Bozan and Shekhka villages in Talkaif district to internally displaced families. In the South and Center Governorates of Iraq, winter kit distributions were completed, with a total of 20,000 winter kits distributed to 20,000 families. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) UNHCR staff distributed core relief items to internally displaced families. PARC/IRC 4

5 Some 800 recently arrived families in Sulaymaniyah Governorate are being accommodated in tents. During the reporting period, additional families fled to Baghdad due to the conflict. UNHCR is monitoring the situation of IDP movements and conducting Rapid Needs Assessments to assess priority needs and target assistance. NON-CAMP UNHCR distributed 100 litres of kerosene and five kerosene jerry cans per family at the Brazil Sport Centre, Erbil Governorate, hosting some 212 families from Mosul. Renovation of 11 schools in the Dohuk Governorate is on-going. Constraints in access to the forcibly displaced populations, particularly in areas affected by armed conflict, and funding gaps continue to be critical critical challenges for the sustained provision of shelter solutions and NFIs. Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) CAMPS In the Erbil Governorate, the bi-weekly CCCM meetings were organized at the Baharka, Ainkawa Mall and Harshm camps. UNHCR continues to support the Government and other stakeholders through this established mechanism, which facilitates the flow of information, planning and advocacy. In Dohuk Governorate, 15 IDP camps are currently hosting a total of 28,316 families comprising 168,056 individuals. Relocation from urban locations to camps is on-going as these camps still have vacant shelter capacity for nearly 4,400 families/30,000 individuals. As part of their daily monitoring, field and protection teams continue to identify cases and refer them to relevant cluster members to receive specialized services. The Dohuk Governorate officially announced the establishment of the Board for Humanitarian and Relief Affairs (BHRA) and identified the Executive Director, which resulted in the closing of the DMC and the Emergency Cell as their functions are now incorporated into the BRHA. Headed by the Deputy Governor, BRHA will oversee all refugee and IDP related activities in the Dohuk Governorate. The function of the Executive Director will be the daily management and supervision other units/departments. Appointment of staff to various departments of BRHA is ongoing. The NGO Consortium of ACTED, DRC and NRC received the green light to commence the Camp Management Mentorship project. Under this project, 11 out of 14 open camps in Dohuk will be provided with support, mainly in three areas of intervention protection, community participation and information management. CCCM Training for camp mentorship project staff was conducted in Dohuk, 3-5 February. The training gathered around 25 participants from ACTED, DRC and NRC, and was facilitated by a CCCM trainer, with the co-facilitation of DRC and UNHCR staff. The constraints in registration remain one of the key gaps, affecting proper activities in camps and non-camp settlements. Since mid-november 2014, camp management is facing challenges with care and maintenance issues. The CCCM Cluster, in cooperation with the WASH cluster in Dohuk, has noted technical problems in 6 camps (Chamishku, Kabarto 1, Kabarto 2, Bardarash, Essian and Mamilian) mainly in the areas of WASH and site development, which result in sub-optimal living conditions and limited access to services. The CCCM and WASH Clusters advocated with 5

6 the Government of KR-I to take up these issues with the Governorate Construction Committee, in order to undertake repairs under the warranty obligations of the contractors. The CCCM Cluster and BHRA discussed the need to set up up a temporary technical working group on Care and Maintenance across the camps to better monitor and respond to issues related to maintenance, repairs and upgrades. A Vulnerable Family On 3 February, UNHCR met with Fatma during a cash distribution at a Protection Assistance and Reintegration Center (PARC) run by UNHCR partner Qandil, in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I). Fatma and her family were forcibly displaced from their hometown, Fallujah, due to last year s conflict. Fatma is a widow and has 6 children. They are currently living in a one-bedroom apartment in Erbil. The poor insulation of her flat, coupled with sewage issues and insect infestation, is affecting the well-being of her family. Since winter started, our house has been flooded several times, and our clothes are constantly damp. To make matters worse, the house is full of cockroaches and worms, she recalls in disgust. Cash assistance mainly aims to assist highly vulnerable IDPs, and is provided after conducting a household level assessment aiming at identifying particular vulnerabilities. The purpose is to enable such vulnerable IDPs to cover their immediate needs. As part of the UNHCR s cash assistance programme, generously funded by DFID, Fatma s case met the vulnerability assessment criteria, as she is a single head of household, has six children, out of which one suffers from acute asthma. Fatma has very few opportunities to work in Erbil and is struggling to live a dignified life. When her husband passed away last year, it took her over two months to obtain the financial inheritance she was owed, while a relative had to retrieve it for her from a bank in Fallujah and bring it to her in person in Erbil. Ever since Fatma found herself in this precarious situation, she has been trying to find alternative sources of income in the informal economy. She makes bread to make a living, which her neighbours have been selling on her behalf. Despite the very bleak living conditions Fatma and her children are facing since they have been displaced, she remains resilient and optimistic about the future. The cash assistance she received thanks to UK Aid, UNHCR and QANDIL, will allow her to begin some essential renovation works in the house she has been living in with her family, thereby improving her family s overall quality of life. The cash assistance provided to-date served as an additional help in securing a shelter that guarantees minimum privacy and dignity and prevents protection risks, especially for women and girls. With the sustained support of donors, UNHCR will continue providing unconditional cash assistance to the most vulnerable IDPs to address their immediate protection and assistance needs, and ultimately, to instil a bit of hope in their traumatised lives. Story by Natalia Micevic An IDP collects the cash assistance vouchers in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. UNHCR/N. Micevic 6

7 FINANCIAL INFORMATION Total recorded contributions for the operation amount to some US$ 1.22 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 (USD) Switzerland Italy Private Donors 1, , ,893 Contacts: Natalia Micevic, Associate Reporting Officer, Cell +964 (0) Vincenzo Lionetti, External Relations 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