Executive Summary, Iraqis on the move: Sectarian displacement in Baghdad, January 2007

Download the full report (3 MB PDF)

While news of Iraq appears daily in the world’s media, the country’s untold story is that of its internally displaced population. Sectarian violence is contributing to a dramatic rise in the displacement of Iraqis and an acceleration of the humanitarian crisis. It is straining and overburdening the already fragile economic and social fabric of those communities hosting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Since February 2006, International Medical Corps (IMC) assessments indicate that as many as 540,000 people have been newly displaced inside Iraq, due in most part to escalating sectarian tensions. About 80% of these are from Baghdad. It is projected that there could be up to one million more IDPs from within Baghdad governorate over the next few months as sectarian violence continues. Unlike earlier IDP movements, the current displacements appear not to be temporary.

This report focuses on the alarming nature and pace of displacement trends over the last three months, sparked by the events around the Al-Sadr City car bombing in November 2006. In this short period alone, the number of displaced has increased by over 43 percent and only a few districts in the capital, such as Karrada and parts of Al-Mansoor, can be described as still mixed along sectarian lines.

Today’s displacement is creating acute vulnerability, triggering a wide range of needs and stunting development. The risk of regional destabilization stems from: sectarian ghettoization; the scope and trajectory of the military conflict; the potential use of heavier weaponry to target segregated areas; and the extent to which essential infrastructure will be further affected by conflict.

There are many humanitarian challenges resulting from these population movements. IDPs are facing malnutrition, a lack of shelter, access to health services including maternal and child health, inadequate water and basic sanitation and unemployment. The effects on education, opportunities for employment and freedom of movement for all the population are devastating. Host populations can be as destitute as the IDPs themselves; and several governorates that have been receiving Baghdad IDPs, such as Karbala, are already saturated. Minorities including Palestinians, Ahwazis and Christians are also facing persecution and have not received substantial assistance to date.

Often dependent on the generosity of host families who are themselves poor, IDPs have inadequate access to food. Irregular supplies of government rations resulting from the deteriorating security situation means that strained host populations, as well as IDPs, have run through meager stores of food and resource-sharing is becoming increasingly difficult. The influx of IDPs into communities has increased the burden on already deficient water and sanitation infrastructure, thus exacerbating the situation.

Having fled their homes with few belongings, exposed to violence and injury and without adequate access to food and water, IDPs are at greater risk of ill health and disease. Already poorly equipped and inadequately staffed, health care centers located in areas of high IDP concentration are unable to cope with the increased caseloads. There is a chronic shortage of medication, lab materials and X-ray films in the country which renders many health facilities useless. Security constraints have hindered Sunnis from accessing facilities located in Shi’a areas and vice-versa. The impact is felt not only by patients but also by medical staff who, fearing for their lives, have become reluctant to travel to their work places unless situated in areas deemed safe. Interviews with IDPs indicate that the many factors related to displacement and violence are having a serious impact on their mental health, while unemployment is driving bread winners to find alternative sources of income.

Resources currently available to address these growing needs fall far short and it is clear that the humanitarian response to this crisis needs to be re-examined in light of the emerging displacement patterns and the rapid escalation of violence that has occurred within recent months.

This report calls for immediate attention by the international community to the plight of displaced Iraqis and identifies key factors that must be recognized:

• Internal displacement occurring in Iraq today cannot be viewed as short-term and unsustainable emergency-centric interventions alone are not sufficient. Given the potential long-term displacement of Iraqis, humanitarian interventions must include a comprehensive approach that not only responds to basic needs, but also includes conflict resolution and mitigation strategies, support for host communities and self reliance components for IDPs.

• Access to health services is becoming increasingly difficult for IDPs and the ability to meet the health needs of the population is diminishing as the numbers of IDPs grow. Hospitals and health care centers will need to improve their delivery systems and the loss of health care professionals due to the risks to personal safety must be addressed.

• Steps must be taken to prevent food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly if the Public Distribution System (PDS) is further disrupted. Due to population movements, IDPs are not receiving food rations and are currently relying on private donations and host families. Coordination mechanisms and capacity of responsible government ministries need to be strengthened.

• Shelter strategies must be put into place as the number of IDPs increases, recognizing that host communities alone will no longer be able to absorb IDPS in existing homes and structures.

• It is critical that employment opportunities become a major focus of a response to the needs of IDPs and to communities as a whole.

• Forced return of IDPs to their original homes in neighborhoods or areas dominated by members of other sects is likely to spur additional violence and a new wave of displacement. IDPs should not be returned to their place of origin without mechanisms in place to ensure their safety and protection from potential harm and abuse.

International Medical Corps has over 300 staff and 1400 volunteers working on IDP related issues and engaged in humanitarian relief and development in sectors that include primary healthcare, nutrition, water and mental health in 16 of the 18 governorates in Iraq. Data for this study was gathered from several different sources including Iraqi government entities, local tribal and religious leaders and on-going focus group discussions and door-to-door, neighborhood by neighborhood interviews in the capital and in the outlying governorates where many of the displaced families and individuals have relocated.