IKOM

Anbar Governorate Profile

The vast majority of Anbar’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) are Sunni Arab families who fled sectarian violence in Baghdad and generalized violence within Anbar during 2006. Many would like to resettle in a third location (44%) while others would like to return to their homes, should security allow (34%). Indeed, some have already begun to do so as security has improved. IOM has identified more than 7,000 families displaced after 2006 who have returned to Anbar.

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Babylon Governorate Profile

IDPs (internally displaced persons) in Babylon are comprised of primarily Shia Arab families who fled sectarian violence in Baghdad during the post-Samarra violence of 2006 and early 2007. IOM has assessed 4,181 IDP families living in Babylon, of which almost 75% come from the neighbouring Baghdad governorate. IDP families cite access to work, shelter, and food as their main concerns, as heavy unemployment in the governorate has affected both access to adequate housing and affordable food.

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Baghdad Governorate Profile

Baghdad is one of the most populous and unstable governorates within Iraq and has thus become a focus of displacement for a significant number of families. IOM monitors have assessed 61,111 IDP families, 35% of whom are currently located in the Karkh district. Most IDP families (81%) in Baghdad governorate were displaced from elsewhere within the governorate. The bulk of these families have been living in the governorate since 2006. Their prolonged displacement has greatly affected their needs and concerns, which often differ from those of families who have been displaced more recently.

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Basrah Governorate Profile,

Most IDPs (internally displaced persons) in Basrah are Shia Arab Muslims who fled sectarian violence in Baghdad and Salah al-Din in 2006 and early 2007. Few of these IDPs intend to return to their places of origin, with most preferring to integrate into their current communities in Basrah and a growing number intending to resettle in a third location. Many families who were displaced because of sectarian violence migrated to Basrah governorate due to pre-existing ethnic and religious ties.

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Dahuk Governorate Profile

Dahuk, like the other northern governorates under control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), has been relatively stable since 2003. In comparison to elsewhere in the country, few families were displaced from Dahuk and consequently, returnee numbers in the governorate are also low.

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Diyala Governorate Profile

Along with Baghdad and Ninewa, Diyala was one of the governorates that saw the highest rates of displacement following the 2006 Samarra mosque bombing. Most IDPs were displaced to another part of Diyala, though many also fled to Baghdad, Wassit, Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk.

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Erbil Governorate Profile

Erbil, like the other northern governorates under control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), has been relatively stable since 2003. In comparison to elsewhere in the country, few families were displaced from Erbil. Consequently, returnee numbers in the governorate are also low.

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Kerbala Governorate Profile

IDP (internally displaced persons) families in Kerbala are Arab Shia families who fled sectarian violence in Baghdad and Diyala. The majority wish to return to their homes in these two governorates, depending on factors such as the security situation, access to property, and access to work. There are currently 7,367 IDP families residing in Kerbala, mostly from Baghdad (63%) and Diyala (23%) governorates.

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Kirkuk Governorate Profile

A long history of migration, coupled with religious and ethnic tensions has made Kirkuk one of the most demographically complex governorates in Iraq and one of the few where regular displacement continues, albeit at a slower rate than before. Fear of conflict and difficulty in securing longterm work or shelter has meant that life for many of the families displaced in or returning to Kirkuk is precarious.

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Missan Governorate Profile

The majority of families displaced to Missan in 2006 fled from sectarian violence in Baghdad. Many IDP (internally displaced persons) families migrated to Missan because of historical, tribal, and religious ties they had with the governorate, joining a large number of families displaced to the governorate during the previous regime.

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Muthanna Governorate Profile

Muthanna governorate is host to almost 3,194 IOM-assessed IDP (internally displaced persons) families, most of whom are Arab Shia Muslim. Many of these families were displaced to the governorate before February 2006 as a result of persecution by the previous regime. Prolonged displacement, as in the case of many Muthanna IDP families, greatly affects the needs and concerns of displaced individuals, as their needs are often different from families who have been displaced more recently.

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Najaf Governorate Profile

In Najaf, the intentions of IOM-assessed internally displaced persons (IDPs) have changed dramatically since 2009. Where previously 70% of families stated the intention to return to their governorate of origin, now 70% would like to stay and integrate in their current locations in Najaf, reflecting the dramatically improved security situation.

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Ninewa Governorate Profile

Despite decreases in violence throughout the rest of Iraq, Ninewa has been marred by on-going attacks. Both sectarian violence as well its location along the DIBs (disputed internal boundaries) in northern Iraq continue to make Ninewa a primary focus of displacement and return in Iraq.

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Qadissiya Governorate Profile

IDP (internally displaced persons) families in Qadissiyah, though relatively safe from sectarian violence, are faced with severe unemployment and, as a result, often find themselves unable to afford adequate shelter and food. Many live in temporary homes comprised of mud and oil cans that are built on public or private land, rendering them susceptible to eviction. These families also receive much of their water from pipes illegally connected to main water lines.

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Salah al-Din Governorate Profile

The bombing of the Al-Askari mosque in February 2006 and the sectarian violence which ensued marked the beginning of a watershed in Iraqi displacement. Located in the district of Samarra, this major event took place in Salah al-Din, making this one of the key sites of sectarian tensions in the country. Since then, the security situation in the governorate has improved dramatically, but while bombings are less frequent than in previous years, they do continue to occur.

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Sulaymaniyah Governorate Profile

Sulaymaniyah, like the other northern governorates of Erbil and Dahuk which are under the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), has been relatively stable since 2003. In comparison to elsewhere in the country, few families were displaced from Sulaymaniyah and consequently, returnee numbers in the governorate are also low.

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Thi Qar Governorate Profile

IOM monitors have interviewed 9,738 IDP (internally displaced persons) families displaced post-February 2006 in Thi Qar governorate, most of whom are Arab Shia Muslim. A majority of these families left their homes as a result of sectarian violence in Baghdad, Salah al-Din, and Diyala governorates. Many of these families chose to migrate to Thi Qar due to the tribal and traditional connections they had with the governorate. Though there are a large number of IDP families currently located in Thi Qar, displacement to the governorate has been quite slow since 2007.

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Wassit Governorate Profile

When sectarian violence was at its height in 2006 and 2007, thousands of families who fled the conflict in Baghdad and Diyala headed to Wassit in search of safety and security. Though many of these internally displaced persons (IDPs) have left behind the worst of the violence they, along with returnees and host communities in the governorate face, a new set of challenges while rebuilding their lives.

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Basrah Governorate Profile

Most internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Basrah are Shia Arabs who fled sectarian violence in Baghdad and Salah al-Din in 2006 and early 2007. Very few of these IDPs intend to return to their places of origin, with most preferring to integrate into their current communities in Basrah and a growing number intending to resettle in a third location. Basrah also may potentially receive a large number of families returning from displacement elsewhere in Iraq, so there is an acute need for permanent housing and employment opportunities to accommodate both those wishing to stay and those who will return.

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Dahuk Governorate Profile

The northern governorates of Erbil, Dahuk, and Sulaymaniyah, which make up the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), have been relatively calm and stable in comparison to the rest of the country since 2003. As a result, many families fled to the KRG seeking safety from post-2006 sectarian violence.

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Diyala Governorate Profile

Along with Baghdad and Ninewa, Diyala was one of the governorates that saw the highest rates of displacement following the 2006 Samarra mosque bombing. Most IDPs were displaced to another part of Diyala, though many also fled to Baghdad, Wassit, Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk.

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Erbil Governorate Profile

The northern governorates of Erbil, Dahuk, and Sulaymaniyah, which make up the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), have been relatively calm and stable in comparison to the rest of the country. As a result, many families fled post-2006 sectarian violence to the KRG seeking safety.

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Kirkuk Governorate Profile

The disputed Kirkuk governorate remains unstable, combining continued fears of violence with the already difficult living conditions faced by IDP and returnee families there. While those who feel safe enough to return have begun to do so, Kirkuk is one of the few governorates where displacement flows continue, though in comparatively small numbers. Many IDPs are still waiting to return, living with relatives or in illegally placed mud shelters, searching for elusive employment opportunities and trying to support their families.

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Missan Governorate Profile

The majority of families displaced to Missan during and after 2006 fled sectarian violence in Baghdad. In many cases, they chose to leave their homes and travel to the relatively stable southern governorate of Missan because of historical, tribal, and familial ties. They joined a large number of families displaced during the previous regime also living in the governorate.

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Ninewa Governorate Profile

Ninewa governorate’s high levels of violence and its location along the disputed internal boundaries in the north of Iraq continue to make it a primary focus of displacement and return in Iraq. An estimated 7% of nationwide post-2006 internal displacement originated in Ninewa, and IDPs from Ninewa make up 46% of all IDPs in the north of Iraq.

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Salah al-Din Governorate Profile

IDPs in Salah al-Din governorate live in difficult circumstances, particularly those in settlements outside of the main cities where access to basic services, medical care, and work opportunities are distant. Many throughout the governorate live in precarious housing situations and are not able to find suitable sources of income to support their families. Most IDP families in Salah al-Din fled sites of the worst sectarian violence and many do not yet feel safe to go home.

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Sulaymaniyah Governorate Profile

IDP families in Sulaymaniyah have come from Baghdad, fleeing sectarian violence and insecurity, and Diyala, along the disputed internal boundary between Sulaymaniyah and Diyala governorates. IDP families in Sulaymaniyah are primarily concerned with access to food. They list food as their top priority need and face difficulty finding opportunities for work to support themselves and their families.

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Thi Qar Governorate Profile

Post-2006 IDP families in Thi Qar governorate are almost exclusively Shia families who fled sectarian violence in 2006. They travelled south from violent, unstable governorates like Baghdad, Salah al-Din, and Diyala to safer locations where a homogenous population made sectarian violence less of a problem. Many already had traditional ties to their locations of displacement through family or tribe. Now over 61% of IOMassessed IDP families in Thi Qar say they wish to stay and integrate permanently in the governorate.

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