Number of Iraki Refugees Rises By 24,106 People Compared to January 2008
Editor’s Comment: So much for the lies spewed by the American military about how much safer Irak is since they started their murderous surge. You don’t flee your home to live live in a tent or worse unless you are terrified. Please help the victims of war: make a donation to the ICRC today when you select the “Iraq” option in the drop down list in step 1 your money goes directly to the IRCS and ICRC Irak programmes.
Internal displacement became a humanitarian crisis since the attack on the Holy Shrines in Samara’. The highest number of IDP was registered in September 2007- 2,299,425 people. By end of January 2008, a total of 126,768 people were registered as returnees, as many had thought that the security situation in some areas in Iraq had relatively improved. On the other hand, some IDP families were forced to return to their original areas of residence by the high cost of living in their host communities. See chart 2 for cumulative monthly numbers of IDP for 2006 and 2007. For additional information on monthly numbers and other distributions see Annex 1.
As of end of February 2008, the number of IDP was 2,196,763 people. This is an increase by 24,106 people compared to January 2008. The increase in the number of IDP was registered in seven governorates- Kirkuk, Diwaniyah, Anbar, Erbil, Babil, Thi Qar and Diyala. More than 60 percent of the displaced people were in Baghdad governorate. More than 82 percent were women and children under the age of 12. In addition to being displaced, the majority suffer from disease, poverty and malnutrition. Children do not attend schools and are being sheltered in tents, abandoned government buildings with no water or electricity, mosques, churches, or with relatives. (See table 1 and chart 1 for 2008 cumulative monthly numbers of IDP and table 2 for distribution of IDP by governorate)
The problems facing the IDP
Health: The health services provided by hospitals and health care centers are inadequate. Also, there is shortage of medicines and medical supplies. The areas that received large numbers of IDP are the most affected. In addition, most displaced people who suffer from chronic diseases (like hypertensive and diabetic patients) have lost their medication cards. Many diarrhea, cholera and typhoid cases have been registered as a result of using contaminated water.
Education: Many teachers and headmasters were threatened or killed and many pupils were killed in groups or individually. This situation had scared students from attending schools. On the other hand, many IDP pupils dropped out of schools as a result of the economic situation of their families and difficulties in transferring their official documents to the schools in their new neighborhoods. As the security situation somewhat improved, the Ministry of Education facilitated the transfer of the documents of the IDP children to the schools in the host communities and arranged to bring children back to schools. However, schools in the areas that received big numbers of IDP became overcrowded. Also, it was noted that many female pupils did not register back to schools due to poor economic situation of their families or because they are needed to assist at home.
The Iraqi Red Crescent had a distinguished role in assisting IDP children in transferring their official documents from one governorate to the other and in admitting them to schools in their new neighborhoods. For example, the Iraqi Red Crescent assisted 45 students from Kurdaseen camp in Dohuk to transfer their
documents from Ninawa governorate.Shelter: There is an increase in the cost of rented apartments in the secure areas, especially in the northern and southern governorates, which made it difficult for big families to obtain appropriate shelter. Some IDP families live with their relatives; but many others are sheltered in abandoned public buildings, which lack water, electricity and sanitation facilities. Few IDP families are living in camps/tents that lack services and
basic means for living.Economic aspect: Many IDP families have lost their income or their breadwinners. For the majority, work opportunities were scarce in the host communities. Also, most IDP family heads are poor with very limited income or education, which makes it impossible to meet the basic needs (food, clothing, shelter and fuel) of family members. These families are increasingly becoming dependant on humanitarian aid.
Food security, water and electricity: The IDP families are dependent on the Public Distribution System for food supplies. In the beginning of the displacement problem, the IDP faced the problem of accessing their food shares, but later this problem was solved. The IDP families also use the local market and receive assistance from the host communities, as the food shares they receive from the Public Distribution System do not meet their needs.
Most IDP families use the municipality water supply, water tankers or donated water from the humanitarian organizations. Others use unsafe water from wells, rivers and lakes and water running from damaged pipes. Most IDP families suffer from the frequently disrupted electricity supply and the high cost of fuel.
Source: Iraki Red Crescent Society : “The Internally Displaced People in Iraq Update 32″ (Emphasis added).
Photo Credits: Iraki Red Crescent Society.
Click either of the photos to the right or follow this link to download and read the full report as a PDF.
Indexed under: Baghdad, Disputed Areas, Diwaniya, Diwaniyah, Diyala, IDPs (Internal Refugees), Iraq, Kirkuk, Photos, Poverty, Red Crescent/Red Cross, Refugees, Rescue Work, Typhoid, Water, Women and Children, الكوليرا