1. Healthcare

Iraq CRISIS
Situation Report No. 29 (24 – 30 January 2015)
This report is produced by OCHA Iraq in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 24 – 30 January 2015. Due to the
rapidly changing situation it is possible that the numbers and locations listed in this report may no longer be accurate. The next report will be
issued on or around 8 February 2015.
Highlights
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Kirkuk City stable following multiple ISIL
attacks
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Food partners regain access to Anbar
Governorate for the first time since October,
despite a challenging security situation
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Protection monitors express concern over
ethnic tensions in camps
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Arbat IDP camp population far exceeds
planned capacity, as newly displaced people
continue to arrive in Sulaymaniyah
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The first of a series of gender and protection
mainstreaming workshops for civil society
members held in Erbil
Map Source(s): IOM DTM 15 January 2015, Clusters, CODs. The boundaries and names
shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or
acceptance by the United Nations. Map created on 1 February 2015
Situation Overview
The situation in Kirkuk remains calm following heavy fighting between ISIL militants and Kurdish Peshmerga
forces late Thursday night and into Friday morning. Late 29 January, ISIL forces attacked three towns on the
outskirts of the oil-rich city (Maktab Khalid, Tal Alward and Maryam Bek), which were later retaken by the
Peshmerga, with additional air support from coalition forces. While no civilian casualties or displacement were
reported, dozens of ISIL militants and Peshmerga forces were reported killed.
Since 9 January, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the Arbat Camp in Sulaymaniyah has
reached over 2,700 families, with over 700 families without tents; far exceeding the camp’s planned capacity of
1,000 families. Camp staff report that as many as four families are forced to share 4x4 sq metre space inside a
tent. WASH and Health clusters have raised serious concerns of disease outbreaks in the coming days. In
response, the government has allocated land nearby to host the new arrivals. Site planners surveyed the land,
with camp development expected in the coming weeks. Most IDPs in the camp are from Salah al-Din, followed by
Anbar, Diyala and Ninewa. New IDP arrivals were provided with winterised relief items, including cooking sets,
kerosene, heaters, blankets, mattresses, plastic sheeting, and jerry cans. In addition, newly-arrived children
received warm clothes. Humanitarian partners are requesting immediate support with WASH facilities and
supplies (hygiene kits, jerry cans), as well as digging cesspools, the installation of latrines and showers, and
increased water supply.
On 25 January, fighting broke out between groups of Yazidi and Muslim (Arab) IDPs at the Kabarto II IDP Camp
(Dahuk). A disagreement between a Yazidi and an Arab child reportedly triggered the fighting. The parents got
+ For more information, see “background on the crisis” at the end of the report
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The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and
principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.
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Iraq IDP Crisis Situation Report No. 29 |2
involved and this reportedly eventually escalated into a gunfight. The police and the special military moved in
quickly to calm the situation. No serious casualties were reported except for minor injuries, but as many as 20
people were arrested. Many Arab Muslims moved out of the camp the night of 26 January in fear, but managed to
return after the police intervened. Security has been hardened in and around the camp. The Kabarto II IDP camp
is home to over 2,300 families (over 13,800 individuals) of mixed ethnicity. The Vice-Governor has given
assurances that the authorities will take all necessary measures to prevent a re-occurrence. The potentially lessthan-peaceful co-existence is beginning to be a source of concern to humanitarian agencies in the camps
because of possible revenge actions.
In Baharka Camp (Erbil), the deplorable WASH situation has been raised by government and donors. It appears it
will take months to install WASH in the new cabins and the extension seems to be taking a long time to open.
Toilets are reportedly broken and unusable; roads to WASH facilities muddy and impassable, and people are
urinating and defecating in the open.
Protection monitors continue documentation and verification of an increasing number of forced eviction cases of
IDPs from different communities inside Kirkuk City. Over 20 IDP families in Kirkuk from Diyala Governorate were
evicted from their houses and escorted to the Kirkuk border in early January; the IDPs had been in Kirkuk since
2006. A further over 170 families were threatened with eviction in the week beginning 11 January. The Governor
of Kirkuk, responding to the UN appeals, sent an official letter assuring the humanitarian community that IDPs will
stay in Kirkuk as long as their areas of origin are not safe to return.
According to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM)
released this week, 2.18 million persons have now been
identified as internally displaced across Iraq, an increase of
over 53,400 individuals over the last reporting period on 25
December. Of the additional over 8,900 displaced families
displaced, over 5,100 were in Diyala Governorate due to the
ongoing conflict. Of the total number of displaced people Iraqwide, more than 650,000 people are living in critical shelter
arrangements such as informal settlements, religious
buildings, schools, and unfinished buildings, the DTM (as of
15 January) reported. The largest segment of this critically
sheltered population is in Dahuk (29 per cent), and in Anbar
(15 per cent). Overall, across all locations, the most common
A young boy at an informal settlement in Dahuk Governorate
OCHA/ David Swanson
critical shelter arrangement is unfinished and abandoned
buildings, with over 374,400 individuals. Preliminary analysis
representing 14.6 per cent of the total displaced population found that 18 per cent of the IDPs cited shelter and
housing as a priority need, while 16 per cent cited NFIs as a priority need.
For the first time since October, humanitarian regained access to Anbar Governorate, despite a challenging
security situation. Four districts have been reached, and 31,800 displaced people were assisted with family food
parcels (FFPs) since 22 January. Food partners have also regained access to the Zummar sub-district (Dahuk
Governorate), previously under ISIL control. The humanitarian situation of displaced Iraqis in the southern
governorates of Najaf, Kerbala and Babel has reached critical levels, following an influx of people from elsewhere
in the country, according to an assessment by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). WFP currently
assists 50,000 displaced families in Basrah, Thi Qar, Qadissiya, Missan, Wassit, Muthanna, Najaf, Kerbala, and
Babel.
Humanitarian Response
Shelter and Non-Food items
Needs:
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In Amiriyah, Baghdad, 1,300 IDP families from Anbar, Diyala, and Salah al-Din governorates have not yet
received assistance. Approximately one-third are housed with relatives and two-thirds are living in abandoned
or unfinished buildings or informal shelters.
In Diyala, fighting continues to be experienced between the government forces and ISIL in Muqdadiya District
with pro-government military and security groups successfully capturing several villages in the district during
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org
Iraq IDP Crisis Situation Report No. 29 |3
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the reporting week. As a result, IDPs continue to flee to Khanaqin. More core relief items and tents are
needed for new arrivals; and an assessment will be planned accordingly.
Authorities in Kirkuk and Diyala indicated a need for more camp shelter. Authorities in Kerbala report a need
for more non-camp shelter options, including tents and community centres.
Some 36,000 people in Tooz (Salah al-Din Governorate) need shelter support, NFIs and kerosene heaters,
local authorities report.
Near Fallujah (Anbar Governorate), there is a tented camp of 300 families with around 700 more families in
barns and other abandoned structures. The group already has coverage with NFIs, but more information on
the shelter situation for this group is needed.
In Dahuk Governorate, 2,500 families living in unfinished buildings in Zakho District have been identified as
being in need of winter support.
Response:
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Kerosene update: As of 30 January, 16.5 million litres of kerosene has been distributed throughout Iraq to
over 128,000 IDP families (in KR-I: 13.9 million litres to over 99,000 IDP families and in Centre and South
Iraq: 2.6 million litres to over 28,800 IDP families) as of 30 January. The Government of Iraq distributed
roughly half of the kerosene provided.
The construction of over 1,000 concrete floors for tents and kitchens has started in the extension area of the
Baharka IDP Camp (Erbil Governorate). Over 690 shelter plots are slated for completion in mid-February,
with the balance (over 320 shelter plots) in mid-March.
In Dahuk, at the Berseve II IDP camp, the reception centre, primary healthcare clinic and camp management
offices are now completed. At the Khanke IDP camp, the camp management office is complete and a cluster
partner has distributed more than 3,000 solar rechargeable light kits. In the Bajet Kandala IDP camp, the
camp management office, along with 240 kitchens units have been constructed. The extension of the
Garmawa camp is ongoing: over 650 out of 1,320 concrete slabs (used to raise tents off the ground and
provide some wind protection) are complete.
Also in Dahuk, sealing off of unfinished buildings for protection against winter elements in Sersink has been
finalised.
In Diyala, Cluster partners have completed the renovation project of over 70 uncompleted houses,
accommodating a total of over 250 families.
Gaps & Constraints:
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In Garmawa IDP camp (Dahuk Governorate), road access is difficult due to recent rains.
Food Security
Needs:
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Anbar Governorate: In the Heet District, IDP movement continues from Baghdadi towards Haditha and the
eastern desert. Baghdadi remains in urgent need of food supplies. Humanitarian partners are also gravely
concerned about the food security of thousands of people in the besieged city of Haditha, which has largely
been cut off from its supply chains since October 2014. The Joint Coordination and Monitoring Centre
(JCMC), has confirmed that food is a priority need.
In Samara City (Salah al-Din Governorate), recently arrived IDPs from the southern part of the governorate
are in urgent need of food.
NGOs report a need for food assistance in Diwaniya District (Qadissiya Governorate).
Response:
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In collaboration with its partners, Since 1 January 2015, WFP has provided support to approximately 424,000
people with family food parcels (FFPs) in 12 governorates throughout Iraq.
The voucher programme is being extended. Distribution began in Dahuk City during the reporting period,
targeting approximately 55,000 displaced people.
To achieve a better understanding of the impact of the current conflict on the food security and livelihoods
situation of host and IDP communities, a detailed assessment has been completed in Anbar Governorate.
Additional assessments are underway in Baghdad, Diyala and Kirkuk.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
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Iraq IDP Crisis Situation Report No. 29 |4
Gaps & Constraints:
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In line with the inter-agency Strategic Response Plan, the WFP Emergency Operation in Iraq requires an
additional US$200 million, to prevent a partial pipeline break for vouchers in March, and a complete pipeline
break for all types of food assistance in April.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Needs:
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Central and Southern Zones
o Over 900 IDPs families settled in unfinished buildings and schools in Samarra District (Salah al-Din
Governorate) are in urgent need of hygiene supplies for both adults and children, including bottled
water and plastic garbage bags. Open defecation and urination has reportedly become the norm.
o Baghdad authorities decided to establish 10 collective centres in different locations, each will host
250-500 families. Six sites were already allocated and work was started in three locations.
o More than 300 IDPs families are settling on the Baghdad-Babylon road. Despite being reached by
some of relief agencies, the IDPs still don’t have adequate services in terms of shelter, foods, water,
sanitation and electricity. Baghdad government has decided to erect a tented camp and has asked for
WASH support in establishing services.
o Budgetary constraints for local governments have resulted in increased humanitarian needs amongst
IDPs scattered in central and southern areas of the country and affected the ability of municipal
authorities to respond effectively.
Response:
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Central and Southern Zones:
o Partners have provided 50 mobile latrines and 50 mobile showers to IDPs settled at the main road
between Najaf and Kerbala through coordination with Najaf authorities and community leaders.
o 2,700 IDPs were reached through ongoing garbage collection campaigns in Kut-Na'maniya road
(Wassit Governorate) and Shomaly main road (Babylon Governorate).
o Over 7,800 IDPs were reached through de-sludging of over 1,820 m³ of sewage in eight sites witin
Najaf, Kerbala, Wassit and Babylon governorates.
o Over 6,300 IDPs settled in Shanafiya, Ghammas and Saniya, were reached through provision of
1,600 sets of bottled water, sanitary pads for women and girls, diapers, plastic garbage bags and
communal garbage containers.
o Over 2,700 IDP families, (16,200 individuals) were provided with safe water through water trucking
with a total daily amount of 420,000 litres in four locations in Anbar Governorate.
Dahuk:
o 103,000 people at different locations in Dahuk Governorate are provided with water through trucking
on a daily basis. In addition, about 165,500 people in 15 camps are receiving wash services on daily
basis (water and sanitation).
o Humanitarian partners are supporting the Directorate of Municipalities for garbage collection to the
final disposal site from five camps, as well as the provision of chlorine for area water supplies. This
support is provided for six months.
Sulaymaniyah: Water trucking rate has been increased from 126,000 to 252,000 litres per day; 12 water
tanks were delivered and are being installed; over 120 prefab latrines and over 100 showers were delivered
and are being installed.
Gaps & Constraints:
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In Sulaymaniyah, new waves of IDPs have resulted in insufficient WASH facilities
Lack of exact locations and figures on out-of camp IDPs in Sulaymaniyah, Khanaqin and Kirkuk.
Lack of funds is preventing the Dahuk Governorate form being able to cover garbage collection from camps
to the final disposal site.
Also in Dahuk, the quality of construction of recently completed camps by the government and design issues
is resulting in high operational and maintenance costs for WASH partners.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org
Iraq IDP Crisis Situation Report No. 29 |5
Protection
Needs:
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Further reports from the Kirkuk Governorate indicate that local residents in the towns of Jalawla and Saadiya
(Diyala Governorate) – retaken in November 2014 – have complained that Shiite militiamen had plundered
their homes and shops after the fighting was over.
A reported over 20 families fled conflict around Mosul Dam area to the Khazir checkpoint outside Erbil. The
families were not allowed to enter Erbil and INGOs and civilians are not allowed to cross the checkpoint as
Khazir is considered a conflict zone. Concern for IDPs at the Khazir checkpoint has been brought to the
attention of relevant stakeholders for possible intervention.
Latest figures report 710 families displaced due to recent violence around Gwer in Erbil Governorate.
Families have fled to Debagah and are receiving assistance from government authorities, UN agencies and
NGOs. Protection actors are concerned about the proximity of the site to insecure areas.
In Erbil Governorate, child protection case management services outside of Erbil City remain an ongoing
need. Similarly, in Sulaymaniyah, with an increasing number of IDP families and limited number of child
protection actors, the unmet protection needs of children are significant. Children living outside camps remain
hard to reach, and there are increasing reports of protection concerns such as child labour and child
marriage. Adolescents can be particularly vulnerable, with limited access to education, and families’ limited
access to livelihood opportunities, exacerbating these protection concerns.
Response:
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Protection needs assessments covering close to 900,000 individuals (over 154,000 families) have been
carried out since February 2014. Of these, some 22,000 have been approved for cash assistance, 53,000
have received legal assistance, and close to 21,000 persons with specific needs have been referred.
Protection monitors provided winterisation kits to almost 550 IDP families scattered around Tuzkhormatu
(Salah al-Din Governorate).
In Diyala Governorate, protection monitors visited the new Al Yawa/Aiden IDP camp, to follow up on
protection issues faced by persons of concern including issues relating to legal assistance. Medical and
educational needs were identified and referrals made accordingly.
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) – Baghdad has established an office in Shekhan District (Dahuk Governorate)
which will handle requests for renewal/replacement of missing civil status documents (Iraqi ID Cards) for IDPs
originating from Mosul.
Gaps & Constraints:
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Threats or forced evictions could cause further displacement, increased vulnerability, exposure to harsh
weather conditions and other severe protection risks, including interruption of education, loss of livelihoods
and exploitation. Many families face financial problems having depleted their savings as well as the
government assistance they received upon registration. Many cannot continue to pay their rent. Of over 5,400
displaced families in Erbil, over 1,500 families were assessed as being at risk of eviction.
Education
Needs:
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Of the total 2.1 million IDPs across Iraq, 615,000 are school age children between ages 6 to 17 years and an
estimated 105,000 children between the ages of 4-5 years. Only 57,000 or 8 per cent of these children are
currently in camps.
9,020 families or 54,120 IDPs are occupying 500 school buildings, according to the IOM/DTM, mostly in
central and southern Iraq. Anbar is the most affected, with 376 schools occupied. A further 130 schools are
currently occupied by military forces.
Response:
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Over 69,000 children have access to recreational and other activities through the provision of temporary
learning spaces.
Over 60,360 IDP children are enrolled in schools across the KR-I. 9,980 in Dahuk, over 31,000 in Erbil and
over 18,680 in Sulaymaniyah
Three trainers trained in Erbil have rolled out their first set of trainings to teachers working in five schools in
Dahuk city, three in Zhako and two in Sumel; subjects included psychosocial support and pedagogy.
A school of 16 pre-fabricated classrooms for more than 700 children was opened at the Baharka IDP camp
(Erbil Governorate). The registration process is ongoing. Also in Baharka, a new child friendly space was
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
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Iraq IDP Crisis Situation Report No. 29 |6
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established in three caravan classrooms to provide alternative learning and recreational activities to IDP
children.
The establishment of tented schools in eight camps in Dahuk Governorate is ongoing. Tents have been
completed in three camps.
Gaps & Constraints:
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Resources are needed to establish schools and educational space for those children who are at risk of
dropping out of formal education, as well as expanding alternative education.
Education materials such as furniture and textbooks are required for new IDP schools being established.
Social Cohesion and Sustainable Livelihoods
Response:
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A job seeker support centre has opened in Kaz Nazan (Erbil) to support non-camp refugees, IDPs and host
community members to build their skills and access employment opportunities. The centre will host about
100 job seekers visitors per week with the objective of providing them with the skills and tools needed to
access the labour market. The centre is also linked through a referral system for registered job seekers to
other opportunities, trainings and initiatives in Erbil.
A partner has been providing livelihood training to over 980 IDPs on how to find jobs and register online.
Gaps & Constraints:
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Increased funding is needed in order to assist more IDPs in a broader range of locations.
Logistics
Response:
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A WFP logistics officer arrived on 21 January and has started the Logistic Capacity Assessment (LCA)
update for Iraq.
Regular Logistics Cluster Meetings to begin in Dahuk as of February 2015.
General Coordination
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A two-day workshop entitled ‘Protection and Gender Mainstreaming in Humanitarian Action: Strengthening
Response’ was held in Erbil on 26 January. This was the first initiative of its kind aimed at strengthening
partnerships between civil society groups in responding to the specific needs of internally displaced women,
girls, boys and men. Participants agreed on the need for better gender analysis and disaggregated data by
sex and age in all sectors.
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Reinforcing the “whole of Iraq approach”, UN agencies and NGOs will meet for a General Coordination
meeting on 5 February at 11 am at the al Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad.
For further information, please contact:
Abdul Haq Amiri, Head of Office, [email protected],
Mobile Iraq: +964 (0) 750 312 9201
David Swanson, Public Information Officer, [email protected]
Mobile Iraq: +964 (0) 750 377 0849
For more information, please visit https://iraq.humanitarianresponse.info
Background on the crisis
Since the fall of Mosul on 9 June 2014, armed groups (AGs), including Ba’athists, tribal militias and members of the
former regime/military, along with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), have taken control of large swathes of
Iraq’s provinces of Ninewa, Salah al-Din and Diyala. The cities of Mosul, Tikrit, Telafar, Beiji, Quayyara, Suleiman Bek,
Heet, Rashad, Hawiga, Riyadh, Falluja and Saqlawiyah, are currently under armed group control. Since January 2014
much of Anbar has been under ISIL control. This has led to massive internal displacement. Iraq is now contending with
one of the largest internally displaced populations in the world; over 2.1 million have been displaced since January last
year.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org