Working environment

The context

Iraq continues to suffer from sporadic violence, a general lack of basic services and high unemployment. Some returnees and internally displaced people (IDPs) remain in dire circumstances that require urgent humanitarian interventions. An inability to form a Government following the March 2010 elections compounded these challenges and reinforced the vulnerabilities of many Iraqis.

While some 350,000 IDPs and nearly 60,000 refugees returned spontaneously in 2008 and 2009, returns have slowed in the first half of 2010, with only 60,000 IDPs and 16,000 refugees returning. Meanwhile the majority of some 1.5 million IDPs in the country have found no solutions to their plight. There are also occasional reports of new displacements, particularly among the minority communities. Within Iraq, there remain some 35,000 refugees, including some 11,000 of Turkish origin. Most of the estimated 10,000 Palestinians in Iraq reside in Baghdad, while several hundred more live in the Al Waleed camp close to the border with the Syrian Arab Republic.

The needs

The Iraqi refugees who choose to return home are faced with many challenges, including lack of security, of livelihood propects and of social services. Many IDPs, too, live in deplorable conditions, deprived of essential assistance, and with their need for humanitarian support increasing the longer their displacement continues. Refugees from other countries living in Iraq face even more dire situations. Since 2003 many have been directly targeted in violent attacks. Although such threats have subsided, they remain vulnerable and require protection and basic assistance for their survival.

2011 UNHCR planning figures for Iraq
TYPE OF POPULATION	ORIGIN	JAN 2011		DEC 2011
		TOTAL IN COUNTRY	OF WHOM ASSISTED BY UNHCR	TOTAL IN COUNTRY	OF WHOM ASSISTED BY UNHCR
Total		1,728,430	702,180	1,323,250	549,150
Refugees	Islamic Rep. of Iran	13,000	13,000	12,000	12,000
	Turkey	10,000	10,000	9,800	9,800
	Stateless	11,500	11,500	11,200	11,200
	Various	800	800	600	600
People in a Refugee-like situation	Various	20	20	30	30
Asylum-seekers	Islamic Rep. of Iran	1,000	1,000	800	800
	Syrian Arab Rep.	2,100	2,100	600	600
	Turkey	1,800	1,800	1,000	1,000
	Various	10	10	20	20
Returnees (refugees)	Iraq	50,000	36,300	50,000	36,300
IDPs	Iraq	1,302,200	484,000	902,200	335,300
People in an IDP-like situation	Iraq	6,000	500	5,000	400
Returnees (IDPs)	Iraq	200,000	141,000	200,000	141,000
Stateless	Stateless	130,000	150	130,000	100

Main objectives and targets

Favourable protection environment

Cooperation with partners is strengthened.

• The partnership programme with national NGOs is reinforced.

Fair protection processes

Civil status documentation is strengthened.

• More than 20,000 IDPs receive legal counselling and documentation.
• At least 26 IDP Return; Integration and Community Centres with 35 mobile teams monitor and support returnees while also providing legal aid.

Status determination procedures are made fairer and more efficient.

• Some 1,500 asylum seekers have their status determined.

Basic needs and services

The supply of potable water is increased or maintained.

• At least 34 water systems are upgraded.

Shelter and infrastructure are improved.

• Some 7,800 IDP and 9,500 returnee families benefit from shelter improvements.

The population of concern is provided with sufficient basic domestic and hygiene items.

• Nearly 10,500 IDP and 2,800 refugee families benefit from these items.

Community participation and self-management

Participatory assessment and community mobilization programmes are improved.

• Some 100 focus group discussions are held.

Durable solutions

The potential for local integration, voluntary return and resettlement is realized.

• Approximately 50,000 people are locally integrated.
• The reintegration of some 50,000 returnees is monitored.
• Some 1,500 vulnerable refugees are referred for resettlement.

Strategy and activities in 2011

The Office will continue advocating for Iraq's accession to international refugee instruments. Meanwhile, UNHCR will continue its registration procedures in close cooperation with the authorities, and conduct refugee status determination (RSD) for some 1,500 people. Refugees will receive basic assistance such as food, water, health and education services. The protection needs of refugees will be highlighted through training and public information campaigns geared towards local populations and authorities.

In 2011, UNHCR will conduct more workshops on statelessness with national bodies and other stakeholders. UNHCR and its partners will work to prevent statelessness by providing essential documentation and legal assistance.

A major problem facing the authorities is the presence of some 500,000 Iraqis in squatter settlements, most of whom are IDPs. UNHCR will coordinate the provision of emergency shelter, water and sanitation assistance to these people. At the same time, it will advocate for longer-term solutions, mainly return and the allocation of land for the homeless.

UNHCR will continue to advocate for the rights of IDPs, especially those in precarious housing situations, to be safeguarded through appropriate national legislation. Community-based coexistence projects for IDPs and returnees have proven effective in ensuring integration. UNHCR also provides legal counselling and personal documentation, and makes legal interventions through the Return, Reintegration and Community Centres for some 20,000 IDPs.

To ensure the sustainability of return, UNHCR will continue to advocate for the implementation of national legislation which safeguards the rights of returnees, including the restitution of illegally occupied properties. With a focus on housing rights, access to land and personal documentation, the Office will identify and monitor the needs of some 50,000 returnees with the help of the Centres. Returnee rights will be the subject of training for some 100 lawyers and 50 Government officials.

UNHCR will provide basic shelter to some 2,300 refugee returnee families as well as 7,000 returned IDP families or families who wish to stay in their place of displacement. It will also provide emergency shelter for an additional 1,100 IDPs and support the allocation of land for the shelters for some 6,700 families. Shelter assistance is combined with the rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities. In addition, 277,000 people will receive non-food items (NFIs) and hygiene kits. UNHCR will also advocate for the inclusion of returnees in the Government's national development plans and the Common Country Assessment/UN Development Assistance Framework.

Constraints

The security situation remains unstable, and renewed outbreaks of violence affect people of concern and hamper UNHCR's access to them. This obliges UNHCR to continue devoting resources to staff safety, including protective clothing and armoured vehicles and the deployment of trained security personnel. Such provisions are implemented in accordance with UN security standards.

Organization and implementation

Coordination

A comprehensive approach to the implementation of UNHCR's programmes requires the participation of returnees and local communities, as well as 300 national UNHCR's budget in Iraq 2006-2011 NGOs. The Office will continue to collaborate with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq and other UN agencies. UNHCR chairs the protection sector and co-chairs the shelter sector as part of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee cluster approach. The UNHCR Data-base Tracking Project (DTP) that is allowing better monitoring of project implementation will be expanded and improved.

Financial information

For 2011, UNHCR's budget for Iraq includes extensive programmes within the country for shelter and water, increased engagement of local NGOs and the expansion of Return, Integration and Community Centres. It also includes costs for Headquarters and regional support, resettlement, training, publications for advocacy and awareness raising, assistance to Iraqi refugees in other countries neighbouring Iraq, including Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and provisions for contingencies for unforeseen population movements. Security provisions are another important item, as well as planned consolidation of the staffing and offices in Iraq.

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2011 Update