In regions Iraq and MENA and in group Iraq

Iraq

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2020-04 Factsheet

< Mar 2020
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COVID-19 messages posted on a tent in Salamyah IDP camp, Ninewa

Highlights

  • In April, over 10,000 IDPs living in critical shelter out of camps received full NFI kits through UN-Habitat and ZOA (donated by UNHCR and supported by IHF). Those two projects continue to deliver shelter support through SOKs, UAB rehabilitation and rental subsidies for the most vulnerable.
  • Shelter Cluster Iraq has published a joined guidance with Health Cluster on COVID-19 Outbreak Preparedness and Response Operations in IDP Camps (provide link) to guide partners on the relevant technical and health standards for the establishment of quarantine and isolation areas in Iraq IDP camps. This guidance is widely disseminated and used by humanitarian actors to design and set up such areas in camps.

 

Coverage against targets

Need analysis

As per the IOM-led DTM report, 1.41 million IDPs and 4.6 million Returnees have been identified across the country, from Jan 2014 to Feb 2020

The number of IDPs continues to decrease (from 2.6 million as of Dec 2017 to 1.41 million as of Apr 2020); while the numbers of returnees has increased (from 3.2 million, end of Dec.2017 to 4.6 million, end of Apr.2020).

  • 24% of those IDPs are in camps, while 68% are currently in private settings (in rented accommodation or with host families); 8% remain in critical shelter arrangements (unfinished/abandoned building; school/religious buildings and informal settlements).
  • 95% of the returnees are in their habitual residence, 2% in Private Settings while 3% live in critical shelter arrangement such as informal settlements, unfinished and abandoned buildings, schools, religious structures.

 

Response

Out of the overall SNFI Cluster target of 524,750 individuals, 49,895 (36%) have been assisted with NFI kits; 8,986 (3%) have benefited from shelter interventions:

  • 36,376 people living in camps and informal settlements have been reached with NFI kits; 3,862 people have been provided with emergency shelter interventions.
  • 6,646 returnees have been reached with NFI kits; 1,706 people were assisted with either emergency repairs of War Damaged Shelter (WDS) or provided with Sealing-off Kits.
  • Jointly with the Iraq Health Cluster, the Shelter Cluster has finalised a guidance note on the set up and management of quarantine and isolation areas in IDP camps - available on the Iraq Shelter Cluster webpage.

 

Gaps / challenges

  • During the reporting period only 22 percent of the Shelter Cluster target was reached. Movement restrictions to curb the C-19 epidemic have kept the status quo in camps, characterized by crowded conditions and exposure to harsh weather conditions including flood risks.
  • Many IDPs and returnees lost their livelihood, worsening their socio-economic vulnerability and hampering affordability of NFIs and rents. Fear of eviction has increased eight times among IDPs compared to November 2019. This may likely worsen living conditions as families move into substandard shelter to decrease rental expenses, or to squat in UAB.
  • IDPs moving between governorates before the measures have been denied entry. Due to insufficient quarantine capacity, they settled in informal sites close to checkpoints, in sub-standard shelter conditions.