Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Number Of Displaced In Iraq Returning Home Declined Again


The United Nations released the latest figures on Iraq’s displaced (IDPs). In July the total number of IDPs dipped below 2 million. While that showed progress on the issue, fewer people are going home since the start of the year.

In August, there were a total of 1,920,456 displaced in Iraq. That was down from July’s 1,953,984. 33,528 people made the journey back to their home areas in August. At the start of 2018 more than 200,000 people were returning per month. That has dramatically decreased since then. In March for instance, 112,446 went back, then an average of 79,000 per month from April to May, down to an average of 45,871 from June to July.

Various aid groups have reported on the change in attitudes of IDPs. Originally, a majority said they would return as soon as the war against the Islamic State was over. Now they are concerned about security, the lack of services, destroyed homes, few jobs and little money. There is also a sizeable population of people that are banned from returning because they are accused of being connected to IS. There is another group of people that have made the trip back to their original areas, found the situation wanting and left to remain displaced. Iraq looks to be reaching the point where all those that are willing to go back have done so and the rest will simply settle where they are or attempt to leave the country.

Displaced By Province
Province
March 31
May 31
July 31
Aug 31
Ninewa
665,910
620,628
602,490
598,578
Dohuk
354,432
350,232
349,782
349,776
Irbil
232,164
222,738
217,506
216,570
Salahaddin
205,182
184,854
169,518
163,812
Sulaymaniya
165,630
154,020
151,698
150,888
Kirkuk
146,202
133,770
124,668
120,798
Baghdad
128,064
107,832
90,852
85,080
Anbar
84,552
81,192
74,982
71,664
Diyala
78,054
64,674
62,448
62,172
Najaf
36,900
30,396
23,400
17,322
Karbala
34,680
27,018
23,280
23,004
Babil
27,978
25,794
22,818
20,496
Qadisiya
13,926
12,882
12,228
12,060
Wasit
13,680
13,164
12,042
12,132
Basra
8,496
8,046
8,082
7,968
Dhi Qar
4,476
4,098
4,086
4,080
Maysan
3,126
3,006
2,832
2,796
Muthanna
1,800
1,374
1,272
1,260
TOTAL
2,205,252
2,045,718
1,953,984
1,920,456

Total Number of Displaced Oct 2017-May 2018
Month
Total Displaced
Difference
October 2017
3,174,678

November 2017
2,883,738
-290,940
December 2017
2,615,988
-267,750
February 2018
2,317,698
-298,290
(2 months)
March 2018
2,205,252
-112,446
May 2018
2,045,718
-159,534
(2 months)
Jul 2018
1,953,984
-91,734
(2 months)
August 2018
1,920,456
-33,528

SOURCES

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Iraq: Internally displaced people by governorate (as of 31 August 2018),” 8/31/18

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