Iraq
2020-08 Factsheet
Highlights
- In May, close to 9,000 IDPs living in critical shelter outside of camps in Dohuk governorate were provided with Sealing Off Kits by Caritas Czech Republic through IHF funding, with full respect for COVID-19 mitigation measures, providing individual distributions and training for HHs.
- Shelter Cluster Iraq has extended its support to health and CCCM actors who need tents for medical or COVID-19 screening purposes outside and in camps, along with full support for quarantine and isolation areas in IDP camps and regularly participates at camp-level multi-cluster discussions on their set-up and management.
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COVID-19 OUTBREAK RESPONSE STRATEGY
The Iraq Shelter Cluster’s strategy for the COVID-19 response has been expanded, to align with the Health Cluster scenario planning, where a collapse of the health system is envisaged, should cases increasingly overwhelm current government structures. In certain governorates, IDPs returning to their camp of residence, had to quarantine inside their tent, where social distancing for 14 days was very challenging. Similarly, other inadequate living spaces such as informal sites may be overcrowded, posing a risk if people cannot properly self-isolate from the rest of their family or community. Hence, the Shelter Cluster plans to provide temporary shelter (tents) and basic household items for quarantine and isolation areas either in IDP camps, and/or adjacent to existing health facilities, so as to help decongestion while respecting strict IPC protocols.
NFI
Shelter
Coverage against targets
Need analysis
As per the IOM-led DTM report, 1.38 million IDPs and 4.71 million Returnees have been identified across the country, from Jan 2014 to August 2020
The number of IDPs continues to decrease (from 2.6 million as of Dec 2017 to 1.38 million as of Aug 2020); while the numbers of returnees has increased (from 3.2 million, end of Dec.2017 to 4.71 million, end of Aug.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, 1% in private settings while 4% 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, 99,084 (58%) have been assisted with NFI kits; 50,919 (14%) have benefited from shelter interventions:
- 66,098 people living in camps and informal settlements have been reached with NFI kits; 9,230 people have been provided with emergency shelter interventions.
- 26,100 people living out of camps have been reached with NFI kits; 25,981 people have been provided with emergency shelter interventions.
- 6,886 returnees have been reached with NFI kits; 15,708 people were assisted with either emergency repairs of War Damaged Shelter (WDS) or provided with Sealing-off Kits.
COVID-19 OUTBREAK RESPONSE
- The Iraq Shelter Cluster has closely worked with Health Cluster, WHO and other relevant ICCG members to prepare an operational guideline on how to set up and manage Quarantine and isolation areas in IDP camps. The guideline has been presented to both Shelter and CCCM partners and Q/I areas are being set up or under discussion with authorities
- In several IDP camps, CCCM actors have started preparing for quarantine and isolation areas would COVID-19 cases be detected with Shelter Cluster supporting as needed. In four camps in Ninewa and Kirkuk a capacity for up to 80 quarantine cases has already been set up and is operational.
Gaps / challenges
- In June-Aug a significant number of families (over 3,000) have left camps and out of camp locations in Dohuk to return to their governorate of origin. The SC has issued an Advocacy Note on Tent for IDPs Departing Camps to address COVID-19-related issues in camps and adequate shelter concerns.
- Very few partners have being trying progressively to resume with their Shelter programmes with no major access issues; applying COVID-19 safety and security measures but also reviewing modalities of their implementation.
- Due to the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions measures, some partners having CASH for Shelter programme are facing challenges with CASH flow from banks, causing delay in transferring Cash to their beneficiaries.
- Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) are crucial to measure the impact of responses. Some partners are preparing to implement a M&E via phone in project locations in Centre & South.
