Malteser International / Al-Mustaqbal Foundation Rapid Needs Assessment Snapshot Report Ayadiya Sub-District, Tal Afar District, Ninewa Governorate 14 June 2017 Key Findings The key informant interviews and focus group discussions conducted between 27 and 29 May 2017 cover information for an indicative total number of 3,050 families (est. 18,300 individuals) living in ten villages located in Ayadiya subdistrict, Tal Afar. Owing to the dynamic displacement situation on the ground, the communities presently comprise IDPs (27.6%), returnees (62.2) and host community (who have stayed in their homes during the military operations; 10.2%). Throughout the assessed locations, communities prioritize needs for: - Food - Water - Footwear and clothing - Medical Care - Education - Shelter/NFI support Rising summer temperatures are raising further WASH needs and health concerns. Assessed Locations District Sub-District Location (English) Location (Arabic) GPS Coordinates Tal Afar Ayadiya Abu Wuni ابو وني 36.62101, 42.4631 36.55515, 42.55779 الحكنة Tal Afar Ayadiya Hugna Tal Afar Ayadiya Al Amala العملة 36.64026, 42.45048 Tal Afar Ayadiya 1-3 Karash كرش 1-3 36.54637, 42.48801 36.54379, 42.4458 كول محمد Tal Afar Ayadiya Gul Muhammad 36.59262, 42.52468 تل مرك السفلى Tal Afar Ayadiya Tal Mark Lower 36.59014, 42.45946 خويتلة Tal Afar Ayadiya Khuitla 36.58355, 42.48585 فقيروك Tal Afar Ayadiya Faqirok 36.55549, 42.51244 قصر سريج Tal Afar Ayadiya Qasr Sirij 36.55481, 42.36997 قصر علوش Tal Afar Ayadiya Qasr Alosh Note: This assessment report provides a snapshot of the key needs and vulnerabilities of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and host communities in assessed locations as of late May 2017. The assessment immensely benefitted from the previous ground work done by partners in the area, including but not limited to DRC, UNOCHA and IOM. This document covers humanitarian aid activities implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the European Union, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. 1
Assessment Objective and Methodology The rapid assessments conducted aim to contribute to the identification of the humanitarian needs of underserved populations in hard-to-reach areas of Tal Afar district and to inform coordinated response. Jointly conducted by Malteser International (MI) and Al-Mustaqbal Foundation (AMF), the assessments are intended to collect locationspecific multi-sector information and provide the best possible overview of the humanitarian conditions in areas successively opened to humanitarian access. Measurement took place on a community level in locations selected through purposive sampling based on secondary data analysis and contacts with village leaders and local government representatives. Deploying gender-balanced teams of enumerators with sound knowledge of the area, each location was assessed through a minimum of three Key Informant Interviews and one Focus Group Discussion. Between 27 and 29 May 2017, a total of ten villages were surveyed as part of this second assessment round out of several planned missions to recently liberated sites in Tal Afar district. The assessment forms used are adapted from the questionnaire designed under the framework of the Assessment Working Group (AWG) by UNOCHA Iraq, UNOCHA Humanitarian Operations Centre and REACH Initiative in consultation with Clusters. Data collection and analysis was carried out through KoBoToolbox for consistency, compatibility and integrity of data with previous REACH based surveys, although not integrated in geographically limited coordinated assessment for West Mosul. Al Amala Abu Wuni Khuitla Karash 1-3 Gul Muhammad Faqirok Tal Mark Hugna Qasr Sirij Map data 2017 Google Population Profile Location Est. # IDP families Est. # Returnee families Est. # Host families Abu Wuni 318 347 n/a Hugna n/a 78 n/a Al Amala 345 120 n/a Karash 1-3 n/a 68 n/a Gul Muhammad 50 24 0 Tal Mark Lower 105 210 n/a Khuitla 18 n/a 15 Faqirok 7 n/a 135 Qasr Sirij n/a 1050 n/a Qasr Alosh n/a n/a 160 Total 843 1897 310 2
Context and Access Ayadiya sub-district is centrally located within Tal Afar district, northern Ninewa. The area s population is ethnically, culturally, and religiously diverse. Already one of the poorest and most marginalized parts of the country, the region has been profoundly affected by recent conflict, which has caused mass displacement and disrupted the primarily agrarian economy. Along with much of Zummar sub-district on its north-eastern border, Ayadiya-sub-district was captured by IS at the beginning of August 2014 and recaptured by Peshmerga Forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government by the end of October of that same year. Almost three years on, many residents have returned to their homes. However, the frontline in the ongoing military operations to liberate Ninewa governorate is the trench-line built by the Peshmerga Forces south of Tall Washi, Kharayj, Sahl Al Milhah, and Qasr Sirij villages, just under five kilometers from some of the assessed communities, placing considerable logistical and security constraints on residents. As the liberated part in the north of the sub-district is under Peshmerga control, humanitarian access is facilitated by KRG authorities and the villages can be reached from north-western routes through Rabia sub-district. The rest of the Ayadiya sub-district, including Ayadiya town and Kasik Military Base have remained under ISIS control since 2014. Summary of Findings Food Security While challenges in accessing food exist in all assessed locations, in 6 out of the 10 communities a majority of the population reported having insufficient food. Reportedly, most affected are families in Qasr Alosh with an estimated 76%-100% of persons suffering from food shortages during the seven days prior to the assessment. Limited economic resources and the disruption of agricultural/livestock production constitute the main food security issues there, followed by limited food due to physical/logistical constraints and overall insufficient market availability. WASH With the exception of two villages (Qasr Sirij, Faqirok), all communities reported that significant parts of the population faced challenges accessing sufficient water that was safe for drinking or cooking during the previous seven days. In Amala, Karash, Khuitla and Qasr Alosh, less than 25% of the population was able to access sufficient safe water. Most important issues are reportedly physical/logistical constraints to access water sources and water storage capacity. As a result, most communities depend on expensive water trucking and bottled water, and, to a lesser degree, boreholes with functioning pumps (Khuitla and Qasr Alosh). In addition, Key Informants and Community Groups in more than half of the locations reported issues with water quality, especially unpalatability of water sourced from local boreholes that is reported as being unacceptable in terms of taste or color. Access to functional sanitation is limited, especially in Gul Muhammad, where less than a quarter of the population had functional sanitation and hand washing facilities. Health In eight of the ten locations, Key Informants and Community Groups reported that there were numerous cases of people suffering from physical illnesses, injuries or people with disabilities. Highest ranked health issues include numerous persons with disabilities, cases of diarrhea, and respiratory diseases in addition to skin diseases and pregnancy related diseases that are likely being exacerbated by insufficient supply of clean drinking water and poor sanitation. All the communities experience challenges in accessing healthcare. Although humanitarian partners have started providing crucial healthcare services in the area, representatives and community groups of all ten villages identified insufficient availability of health services as the number one issue, affecting IDPs, Returnees and Host Community (where applicable) alike. Protection In Qasr Alosh, people are facing constraints in freedom of movement and services due to physical/logistical constraints caused by its proximity to frontlines and economic resources. The Peshmerga Forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government have controlled the area since its liberation in 2014 but no protection concerns were reported. Education In all of the assessed communities, children face challenges in accessing education. The main education issues identified are insufficient schools or classrooms, lack of teachers and learning materials. 3
Livelihoods No functional markets are readily accessible for eight of the assessed communities. Those markets available in Amala and Qasr Sirij are offering basic food items, water and hygiene products. However, only very few households had earned any incomes over the previous month (less than 25% in Abu Wuni, Hugna, Gul Muhammad, Khuitla, and Qasr Alosh). The main coping strategies deployed were to spend savings (if any) or borrow money where possible, while a large portion did not engage in any economic or livelihoods activity to support the household. Shelter/Non-Food Items In nine of the ten locations, numerous families were lacking basic shelter material and NFIs. IDPs, Returnees and Host Community (where applicable) were identified as being vulnerable to this problem. This raises concerns especially where people have returned to their homes partially damaged or fully destroyed during military operations, as is the case in Gul Muhammad. Primary issues are the availability of household items (e.g. mattresses, cooking utensils) due to limited economic resources and shortage in markets. Assistance Received None of the communities representatives or focus group participants had knowledge of any assistance in the seven days prior to the assessment, taking into account that initial displacement took place nearly three years earlier. Most urgently needed areas of assistance identified in the locations were for Food (80% of communities), Water (60%), Footwear and clothing (50%), Medical Care (40 %), Education for Children (40%), and Shelter/NFI Support (30%). Well (background) as local water source Destroyed buildings in Hagna View of Qasr Alosh Shelter Situation 4
Comparative Needs Overview by Location Sector Location Abu Wuni Hugna Al Amala Karash 1-3 Gul Muhammad Tal Mark Lower Khuitla Faqirok Qasr Sirij Qasr Alosh sufficient food in previous 7 days Food Security Average number of meals eaten per day sufficient and safe water WASH with access to functional sanitation facilities with physical illness, injury or disability Health adequate medical care Education Livelihoods S/NFI % of children who are currently attending school % of hh which have earned income in previous 30 days access to adequate shelter materials and NFIs 26%-50% 3 51%-75% 51%-75% 0%-25% 51%-75% 76%-100% 0%-25% 26%-50% 51%-75% 3 51%-75% 76%-100% 0%-25% 51%-75% 76%-100% 0%-25% 26%-50% 51%-75% 3 76%-100% 51%-75% 0%-25% 26%-50% 76%-100% 26%-50% 26%-50% 51%-75% 2 76%-100% 76%-100% 0%-25% 51%-75% 51%-75% 26%-50% 26%-50% 0%-25% 3 26%-50% 0%-25% 26%-50% 51%-75% 51%-75% 0%-25% 26%-50% 26%-50% 3 0%-25% 51%-75% 0%-25% 51%-75% 76%-100% 26%-50% 26%-50% 51%-75% 2 76%-100% 51%-75% 0%-25% 51%-75% 76%-100% 0%-25% 0%-25% 26%-50% 3 0%-25% 76%-100% 0%-25% 26%-50% 76%-100% 26%-50% 51%-75% 51%-75% 3 0%-25% 51%-75% 0%-25% 51%-75% 76%-100% 26%-50% 26%-50% 76%-100% 2 76%-100% 76%-100% 0%-25% 51%-75% 76%-100% 0%-25% 26%-50% 5