The International Organization for Migration (IOM) released its latest quarterly report on Iraq’s displaced (IDPs). While 4.8 million people have returned to their homes after the war with the Islamic State there are still over one million IDPs.
The IOM’s paper covered the months from September to December 2023. It found that 4,863,072 people had returned to their home areas. There were still 1,123,663 displaced however. That was only down 18,351 from the last report.
The organization also found 6,394 new displaced. Most had already lost their homes and had to leave for a second time.
17,010 Iraqis went back to their homes during the quarter. The Baiji district in Salahaddin and the Baaj district of Ninewa saw the most returns.
The provinces with the largest number of IDPs are Ninewa, Dohuk, Irbil, Sulaymaniya, Kirkuk, Salahddin, Diyala and Anbar.
The main reasons why people have not gone back are because they are banned by local governments for being associated with the Islamic State, there has been no rebuilding or there is a lack of jobs and services.
Every prime minister since Nouri al-Maliki has talked about ending this issue. Baghdad has never presented any serious plan and more importantly not allocated adequate funds. The main policy has simply been closing down displaced camps and providing little for those forced out.
After the civil war period there were one million Iraqis that remained displaced. It appears that the same will be true in the aftermath of the war with the Islamic State as the government lacks the will and capacity to actually find lasting solutions to this problem.
SOURCES
International Organization for Migration, “Iraq Master List Report 131, Data Collection Period September-December 2023,” March 2024
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