Iraq's Ministry of Migration Facilitates Return of IDPs to Their Homes

Reports 04:46 PM - 2024-02-05

IDP Camp.

The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced has assigned a sum of 4 million dinars to each displaced family residing in the Kurdistan Region, mostly in Erbil and Duhok, to encourage the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to their original homes. Additionally, the ministry plans to provide compensation to the IDPs, offer employment opportunities in various ministries, and grant each family a plot of land.

IDPs living in the camps of the Kurdistan Region are returning to their homes

The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced also announced that the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will offer several incentives to the returnees, including social insurance payments, assistance, allowances, disability benefits, and interest-free loans.

The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced has made the decision to return all IDPs living in the Kurdistan Region to their places of origin by July of this year, citing that there is no longer any imminent threat in their areas, allowing them to safely resume their regular lives.

Over 650,000 IDPs remained in the Kurdistan Region

There are currently 664,798 internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Kurdistan Region, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced. But according to a PUKMEDIA investigation, between 30 and 40 percent of those who were displaced have gone back to live in their original homes in the last two years.

While there is a lack of up-to-date data on IDPs in the Kurdistan Region, information obtained from the Kurdistan Regional Government's Migration and Displacement Bureau indicates that the most recent statistics from 2022 show a total of 664,798 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Kurdistan Region. Among them, 174,706 reside within camps, while 490,092 live outside of the camps.

Iraqi President calls for UNHCR's support 

Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid met with Jean-Nicolas Bozon, a representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and emphasised the importance of UNHCR and international community support for the Iraqi government's plan to close IDP camps on July 30, 2024. He emphasized the necessity to enhance the endeavors undertaken by international organizations operating in Iraq to address the issue of IDPs and bring an end to their prolonged and distressing situation. In addition, he advocated for pragmatic and prompt measures to establish the essential procedures for their repatriation to their residences, contingent upon the provision of security and sufficient fundamental amenities.

The UNHCR representative, Jean-Nicolas Bozon, praised Iraq's efforts to provide services and meet the needs of refugees and internally displaced persons. He emphasised the UNHCR's support for increased collaboration and coordination with Iraqi authorities to address this issue.

 

IDPs are urged to seize this opportunity and take advantage of the incentive offered by the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and IDPs

 

Ronzi Ziad Sido, a member of the Iraqi Parliament's Migration Committee, told PUKMEDIA that the committee works with the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement to help IDPs return to their homes. 

"While the Ministry of Migration has set a deadline for all IDPs to return by July, our committee has suggested extending this timeline by one month to allow IDPs to finish their education," she said.

"The Ministry of Migration will facilitate the return of IDPs to their homes, and in this context, has decided to offer 4 million dinars, a plot of land, and employment in the ministries as an incentive, because they will eventually have to return to their homes," Ziad stated.

The largest number of Iraqi IDPs are in the Kurdistan Region

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported that Iraq had the most IDPs in April 2016. Approximately 3.42 million individuals were forced to evacuate their homes, with the majority relocating to the Kurdistan Region and establishing themselves in camps. The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced is planning to carry out a census of the IDPs remaining in the Kurdistan Region following the implementation of its decision and end the issue of IDPs in Iraq.

In total, 6 million Iraqis were displaced from their areas due to the Islamic State (ISIS) war and the military operations of the Iraqi forces from 2014 to 2017.



PUKMEDIA