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Iraq Situation: UNHCR Flash Update - 26 January 2018

Countries
Iraq
+ 1 more
Sources
UNHCR
Publication date

Key figures

795,360 IDPs in Ninewa (including as a result of the Mosul military operation)

80,430 IDPs currently displaced due to military operations in Hawiga (Kirkuk) and Shirqat (Salah al-Din)

64,008 IDPs currently displaced due to military operations in west Anbar

647,966 Individuals (136,265 households) currently enrolled in ASSIST, UNHCR’s assistance tracking tool

2,6 million IDPs remain displaced since January 2014

279,512 Iraqi refugees hosted in countries in the region, with 12,531 Iraqis in camps in Hassakeh, Syria

Situation update

Syrian refugee families living in Kirkuk face threats of eviction from local authorities, due to lack of legal residency documents. The Syrian refugees who have been given eviction notices are registered with UNHCR. UNHCR is undertaking advocacy efforts with the local authorities to uphold the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Around 1,500 Syrian refugees are estimated to be currently in Kirkuk, after many Syrians left the city following the October 2017 takeover by federal forces.

Population movements

1,195 Iraqi refugees have returned to Iraq by convoy in January, in four return movements organized by Iraqi authorities. They left Azaz in Syria and returned to Mosul and Tel Afar in Ninewa Governorate. This represents a sharp increase in organized refugee returns from the average of 233 organized monthly returns by convoy from Turkey and Syria in 2017. UNHCR and partners ensure protection monitoring throughout the arrivals process and provide basic assistance if required. While UNHCR is monitoring returns to Iraq from a protection perspective, it is not facilitating movements back to recently-liberated areas where security concerns persist. Almost 280,000 Iraqi refugees are hosted in the region (in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Iran, and GCC countries). In addition, 12,531 Iraqis who have fled Iraq since 17 October 2016, mostly due to the situation in Mosul, are in Al-Hol, Roj, and Newroz camps in Al-Hassakeh Governorate in Syria.

Response update

IDP camp consolidation is expected to continue over the coming months, under the government’s leadership. Six IDP camps across Iraq have recently been closed (3 in Baghdad Governorate, and 3 in Ninewa Governorate). Some 1,628 families (9,000 persons) are currently sheltering in the 11 additional camps targeted for closure in Baghdad Governorate. The CCCM, Protection and Shelter Clusters will continue to work closely with authorities and camp management across Iraq to advocate that protection considerations are prioritized in the process of camp consolidation and closure. UNHCR and partners are advocating for voluntary, safe and sustainable return.

In 2017 UNHCR and its partners assisted more than 18,600 vulnerable Iraqis to receive legal documents, while over 23,300 benefited from legal assistance related to documentation in 2017. During years of conflict, thousands of Iraqis lost civic status, residency and identity documents or were issued documents unrecognized by the government. Legal documents are essential to access public services and assistance. UNHCR is working across Iraq with relevant government entities and partners to continue replacing documents. Mobile operations were established in recently-retaken areas as soon as it was feasible, starting in Mosul and Ninewa, followed by Hawiga.