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Iraq

DISPLACEMENT OF CHRISTIANS TO THE NORTH OF IRAQ

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IOM monitoring and needs assessment field staff are continuously consulting multiple sources, including local councils, mayors, churches, mukhtars, community leaders and IDP families themselves in order to assess the scope of the displacement of Christian families to the northern governorates of Iraq and throughout the country. This trend has been accelerated by recent events, including declarations by insurgent groups that Christians in the country are "legitimate targets" and statements by Iraqi leaders suggesting that rather than leave the country, Christians should move to the more secure northern areas until the situation elsewhere has stabilised.