IOM Displacement Assessments
Iraq has a long history of displacement, culminating most recently in the February 2006 bombing of the Samarra Al-Askari Mosque. Due primarily to sectarian violence, 1.6 million people were internally displaced, chiefly in 2006 and 2007, according to government figures.
IOM field monitoring teams assess the varying needs and challenges of IDP and returnee communities across the eighteen Iraqi governorates. These comprehensive assessments of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees are conducted through Rapid Assessment questionnaires in conjunction with Iraqi authorities and other national and international actors.
IOM seeks to ascertain and disseminate detailed information about IDP and returnee needs and conditions in each governorate. A greater understanding of displacement and return in Iraq is intended to facilitate policy making, prioritizing areas of operation, and planning emergency and long-term responses.
To date, IOM has assessed 223,898 IDP families and identified 55,007 returnee families. Of these returnee families, 3,679 have participated in IOM in-depth needs assessment interviews. Unless otherwise stated, all data in the profile is based on IOM-assessed populations.
SULAYMANIYAH: DISPLACEMENT AT A GLANCE
Governorate Statistics
Total post-Feb 2006 IDPs: 8,306 families (est. 49,836 individuals)
Total pre-Feb 2006 IDPs: 50,465 families (est. 302,790 individuals)
Number of post-Feb 2006 IDPs assessed by IOM: 5,483 families (est 32,898 individuals)
Capital: Sulaymaniyah
Districts: Chamchamal, Darbandihkan, Dokan, Halabja, Kalar, Penjwin, Pshdar, Rania, Sharbazher, Sulaymaniya
Population: 1,715,585
Internally displaced person (IDP) families in Sulaymaniyah governorate are mostly Arab and Kurd Sunni Muslims who fled sectarian targeting in Baghdad and Diyala during 2006 and 2007. The majority of IOM-assessed families in Sulaymaniyah intend to return to their places of origin if allowed by security and other key factors such as regaining former property and livelihood.
While the majority of IDP families in the governorate rent their homes, there are two IDP tent camps in the governorate, representing some of the only organized tent camps in the country. Priority needs in Sulaymaniyah are food and access to work as well as Arabic-language schools.
Copyright © IOM. All rights reserved.
