As of the end of May 2018 over 3.8 million Iraqis had returned
home, while another 2 million remained displaced. Around
90% of those still without their homes said they want to go back. There are
a number of issues that are making that difficult. The Sinjar district in
western Ninewa is a perfect example. Many Yazidis have returned, but the
southern half of the district still has unexploded ordinance, there are no
jobs, and the majority of Arabs are afraid to go back.
A recent report
by the REACH initiative documented the situation in Sinjar. In August 2014, the
Islamic State swept through Sinjar leading to a horrendous period of mass
executions, displacement, and slavery of the Yazidi community. Almost 300,000
people fled the area. 130,000 went to Mount Sinjar, 125,000 went to Dohuk,
13,000 headed for Syria, and 12,000 for Turkey.
In November 2015, the northern part of the district was
freed by the Peshmerga, with the south cleared in October 2017 by the Iraqi
forces. From November 2015 to February 2018, 6,000 families had returned. Almost
all of those that have gone back were Yazidis. They have headed for the northern
section where there was less damage from fighting, IEDs have been cleared,
there are humanitarian aid groups, there is electricity, water is being trucked
in, and there are two schools and a hospital. The south is mostly empty. The
area is less accessible, most of the towns were heavily damaged, there are no
services, and there are still explosive devices. Another problem is the lack of
jobs. Most people farmed for a living before the Islamic State came, and that
economy has not been revived due to IEDs, low rainfall, and the lack of
equipment.
The majority of Sinjar’s population is still displaced. This
population is broken up into two distinct groups. One are the Yazidis. Those that
have not gone back are concerned about the IEDs, lack of jobs, destroyed
property, and have little money. The other group is Arabs. They said they would
not return because they fear retribution by the security forces. Many Yazidis believe
their Arab neighbors supported the Islamic State. In 2014, when Sinjar was
first being liberated Yazidis attacked
three villages, killed 21, wounded 40, and burned and destroyed most of the
buildings. The Peshmerga and PKK did the same in several other towns. This was
done in revenge for the crimes of the Islamic State, which the local Arabs were
blamed for. Most of the Yazidis will likely return once the explosives are removed
from Sinjar. The Arabs however, may have to settle where they currently reside.
The hatred and deep divisions the Islamic State bred in the country are still
raw, and will not be overcome any time soon.
Similar issues are affecting the two million others that
fled their homes in Iraq. Expelling the Islamic State was a major
accomplishment, but is only part of the process to get people to go back to their
original areas. Some things like left over explosives are a short term problem
that can be overcome. Rebuilding towns may take longer as the government has no
specific plan, and this year’s budget only appropriated a small amount of money
for the task. Trying to reconcile communities after the insurgency may never
happen as there is little impetus to do so. These are all reasons why the
number of returns has slowed and a large number of people may never make the
trip back.
SOURCES
International
Organization for Migration, “Integrated Location Assessment II, Part I Thematic
Overview,” 12/10/17
- “Integrated
Location Assessment II, Part II Governorate Profiles,”
12/10/17
OCHA,
“Iraq: Internally displaced people by governorate (as of 31 May 2018),” 5/31/18
REACH Initiative, “Rapid Overview of Areas of Return (ROAR):
Sinjar and Surrounding Areas Ninewa Governorate, Iraq – May 2018,” 5/31/18
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