By International Organization for Migration (IOM)
December 12, 2017
December 12, 2017
Erbil – As the Iraqi Government celebrated its final
victory over ISIL this week, IOM, the UN Migration Agency, released a
new study, which shows that 90 per cent of displaced Iraqis are
determined to return home. This is similar to the long-term intentions
recorded in 2016.
More than 1.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have
returned to their places of origin so far in 2017. In total since the
start of the crisis in 2014, IOM estimates that more than 2.8 million
displaced Iraqis have returned, while more than 2.9 million people
remain displaced.
The IOM study, Integrated Location Assessment (ILA) analyzes both
displacement and return movements of conflict-affected people across
Iraq. Approximately 2.1 million displaced persons and more than 1.6
million returnees, based in 3,583 locations across Iraq, have been
covered in the assessment, which was carried out between March and May
2017.
Only in Basrah and Najaf did families report that they consider
integrating into the local community, where they are displaced.
According to the findings, Anbar was the single governorate where
most returns took place in both 2016 and 2017, followed by Ninewa in
2017.
Among the main findings, this study identifies that residential and
infrastructure damage is widespread. Nearly one third of returnees are
reported to have returned to houses that have suffered significant
damage, and 60 per cent to moderately damaged residences. Regarding
infrastructure, most damage appears to affect roads, followed by the
public power grid and water networks.
The share of displaced Iraqis who have settled in critical shelters
and returnees unable to return to their habitual residence seems to have
slightly increased compared to 2016. This might be related to the lack
of legal documentation for houses, land and property which was reported
among the top three challenges in nearly one out of four locations.
Difficulties in returning to the habitual residence may also be
related to the fact that in some cases, those who remain in displacement
are among the poorest and most vulnerable families, strained by long
years on the move. In locations where there are female-headed
households, and particularly households headed by minor females, “lack
of money” is consistently among the top three obstacles to return.
Long-term concerns over economic security persist with 80 per cent of
displaced people and 63 per cent of returnees cited access to
employment as one of their top three needs.
The ILA Part I: Thematic Overview, the ILA Part II: Governorate Profiles and Questionnaire can be downloaded on the DTM ILA II portal page.
One of the passages of the report about Iraqi Christian Population:
Just like in 2016, while Arab Sunni and Kurdish Sunni Muslims have mostlly returned home, Turkmen Shia and Sunni Muslims, Yazidis, Christians and Shabak Shias remain displaced across Iraq.
(note by Baghdadhope. Thematic Overview pag 15)