The International Organization for Migration (IOM) released a report this month on the situation in Iraq regarding its internally displaced people. ‘Refugees’ are returning to their homes but often face problems when they do so.
IRAQ – Growing Numbers of Displaced Returning Home Continue to Face Basic Needs – Although there are growing numbers of internally displaced people (IDPs) returning to their homes within Iraq, many are coming back home to be faced again with basic needs including shelter, health care or water and sanitation.
In the latest IOM needs assessment of Iraq’s internally displaced people, the report highlights Baghdad as the main destination for returnees but that often people are going back to find their homes destroyed and key infrastructure in disrepair. Many homes need to be rebuilt and buildings, water pipes, electrical networks and basic public services such as health centres are cited as in need of repair and rehabilitation to meet the needs of returning IDPs or refugees.
Note that fears of sectarian violence, not US military action, is primarily responsible for the shifting population. 290,000 have returned home so far.
There are an estimated number 2.8 million IDPs in Iraq, of which 1.6 million have been displaced since February 2006 when the bombing of the Al-Askari mosque in Samarra triggered a new upsurge in violence. A further 2.4 million Iraqis are refugees, living predominantly in Iraq’s neighbouring countries. Since 2006, IOM has identified more than 290,000 people who were internally displaced or who left Iraq as refugees as having returned to their homes.
When you look at the IOM report note that the largest majority were displaced from Baghdad (63.9%). Then these numbers I found surprising. A smaller percentage of the population, the Sunnis, controlled Iraq under Saddam. So, I was under the impression from news reports that the Shia majority was now getting even and causing Sunni displacement, but these numbers show the opposite story. Displacement breaks down as follows:
Arab Shia Muslim 57.7 %
Arab Sunni Muslim 30.7%
Kurd Sunni Muslim 3.7%
Assyrian Christian 2.8%
Chaldean Christian 1.7%
As Judy reported on many occasions, the Iraqi government must get on the ball and make the transition home as easy as possible. It will be a key to Iraq’s future. Right now US NGO’s are happy to drain Iraq of its best and brightest by airlifting them to the US to compete with increasingly out of work US workers!