Due to an increasing number of evictions announced for families in informal settlements, the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) in Iraq launched an emergency tracking tool in September 2023 to understand the number of affected people and their main characteristics.

This report presents the findings of the data collection in January 2024, where DTM recorded 10,228 families whose eviction has been announced by local authorities. During this round of data collection, DTM identified an additional 30 families who had their eviction announced in December and November 2023. Out of these families, 8 per cent are internally displaced persons (IDPs), 18 per cent have returned to the place where they used to reside before the 2014-2017 crisis forced them to flee (returnees) and 74 per cent of people did not flee their homes due to the 2014-2017 crisis (stayees)

The Climate  induced displacement report  measures climate-induced displacement across central and southern Iraq. Families included in these Emergency Tracking reports are those forced to move locations due to drought, water scarcity, environmental degradation and other climatic factors. As of 15 December 2023, 22,583 families (135,498 individuals) remain displaced because of climatic factors across 12 governorates. Of these, just under half of families are displaced within their district of origin (46%). Slightly more than half of families displaced to urban locations. The latest version of the report includes time trend analysis between 2016 and 2023, as well as a spotlight on those residing in critical shelters.

This in-depth qualitative study of areas of limited and no returns in Sinjar district and Qahtaniya subdistrict seeks to uncover specific barriers to durably resolving the displacement of affected people and potential ways forward in unlocking those barriers. Doing so is a critical step in broadly implementing the Joint Government of Iraq, Kurdistan Regional Government and United Nations Roadmap for the Acceleration of the National Plan pursuant to the United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement. The study also aims to improve the political dialogue in the country on how to provide a voluntary and informed choice of residence to people who are experiencing longterm displacement. Findings are drawn from separate focus group discussions with Yezidi, Kurdish and Sunni Arab internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Sinjar district and Qahtaniya subdistrict and key informant interviews with representatives from: the Ninewa Governor’s Office, Sinjar authorities in Dohuk, Sinjar and Qahtaniya authorities within these areas, members of political parties in Sinjar, civil society leaders and activists, tribal leaders, national and international peacebuilding and human rights experts, United Nations personnel and donors.1 Sinjar district and Qahtaniya subdistrict are considered together here, given their similar populations and recent conflict dynamics, connected histories and legacies of violence, as well as geographic proximity to one another and to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Syria and Türkiye

The Women Navigating Durable Solutions report explores what factors influence decision-making during the durable solution process, as well as women’s agency to overcome reintegration barriers. The objective of this study is to investigate the experience of displaced women and their reintegration in areas of origin. It examines female-related vulnerabilities and obstacles that affect their reintegration

In order to contribute to the measurement of local integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq, IOM Iraq, the Returns Working Group, and Social Inquiry implemented an in-depth study of 14 urban locations in the country hosting a high density of families displaced due to the ISIL conflict.  A complementary forthcoming study on Urban Displacement in Iraq, by IOM Iraq DTM, explores protracted urban displacement, including an examination of IDP intentions. Utilising data collected on IDPs' perceptions and living conditions in displacement (1,382 respondents) and on those of host community residents (1,437 respondents) in the same neighbourhoods as well as key informant interviews with local authorities and policy-implementers (40 interviews) in these areas, this work seeks to identify which factors help or hinder local integration – and those locations that are more (or less) conducive to this outcome. This study is predicated on the understanding that local integration is not only based how on IDPs perceive their own belonging in the hosting location, irrespective of any stated intentions to stay or return, but also how host communities feel about accepting them. Further to this, these feelings may themselves be influenced by the character of the urban areas where IDPs and host communities reside as well as the regulatory environment surrounding them.

This report is part of a larger research project, Cities as Home, carried out by IOM Iraq, the Returns Working Group, and Social Inquiry, that explores both drivers and deterrents of integration across 14 urban locations that still host the largest share of IDPs in the country. The outputs of this project also include factsheets for each location, four detailed case studies, and a brief on COVID-19 regulations and implications for local integration

From May 2018 to August 2020, 23,457 Iraqi returnees from abroad were identified in 16 Governorates, 61 Districts and 538 locations. During this reporting period, IOM Iraq achieved full country coverage. Most of the returnees from abroad were recorded in the governorates of Ninewa (63%), Thi-Qar (19%) and Anbar (7%). Of those returnees recorded in Ninewa, 65 per cent were recorded in the district of Telafar, while 26 per cent were recorded in Sinjar. In Thi-Qar, 80 per cent were recorded in the district of Nassriya, while 12 per cent were recorded in Al-Rifa'i. Finally, in Anbar, 53 per cent returned to the district of Ana while 24 per cent were in Al-Ka'im. The majority of returnees (73%) were identified as having come from two countries: Turkey (44%) and the Syrian Arab Republic (29%)

From May 2018 to October 2020, 25,261 Iraqi returnees from abroad were identified in 17 Governorates, 65 Districts and 538 locations. During this reporting period, IOM Iraq achieved full country coverage. Most of the returnees from abroad were recorded in the governorates of Ninewa (59%), Thi-Qar (24%) and Anbar (6%). Of those returnees recorded in Ninewa, 65 per cent were recorded in the district of Telafar, while 26 per cent were recorded in Sinjar. In Thi-Qar, 83 per cent were recorded in the district of Nassriya, while 10 per cent were recorded in Al-Rifa'i. Finally, in Anbar, 53 per cent returned to the district of Ana while 24 per cent were in Al-Ka'im. The majority of returnees (69%) were identified as having come from two countries: Turkey (42%) and the Syrian Arab Republic (27%

From May 2018 to December 2020, 27,325 Iraqi returnees from abroad were identified in 17 Governorates, 65 Districts and 560 locations. During this reporting period, IOM Iraq achieved full country coverage. Most of the returnees from abroad were recorded in the governorates of Ninewa (56%), Thi-Qar (29%) and Anbar (6%). Of those returnees recorded in Ninewa, 66 per cent were recorded in the district of Telafar, while 25 per cent were recorded in Sinjar. In Thi-Qar, 85 per cent were recorded in the district of Nassriya, while 8 per cent were recorded in Al-Rifa'i. Finally, in Anbar, 53 per cent returned to the district of Ana while 24 per cent were in Al-Ka'im. The majority of returnees (65%) were identified as having come from two countries: Turkey (40%) and the Syrian Arab Republic (25%)

From May 2018 to February 2021, 29,335 Iraqi returnees from abroad were identified in 17 Governorates, 65 Districts and 582 locations. During this reporting period, IOM Iraq achieved full country coverage. Most of the returnees from abroad were recorded in the governorates of Ninewa (53%), Thi-Qar (32%) and Anbar (6%). Of those returnees recorded in Ninewa, 66 per cent were recorded in the district of Telafar, while 25 per cent were recorded in Sinjar. In Thi-Qar, 86 per cent were recorded in the district of Nassriya, while 7 per cent were recorded in Suq Al-Shoyokh. Finally, in Anbar, 53 per cent returned to the district of Ana while 24 per cent were in Al-Ka'im. The majority of returnees (62%) were identified as having come from two countries: Turkey (39%) and the Syrian Arab Republic (23%)

Between May 2018 and April 2021, a total of 31,212 Iraqi returnees from abroad were identified in 17 governorates, 66 districts and 590 locations. During this reporting period, IOM Iraq achieved full country coverage. Most of the returnees from abroad were recorded in the governorates of Ninewa (50%), Thi-Qar (36%) and Anbar (5%). Of those returnees recorded in Ninewa governorate, 66 per cent were recorded in the district of Telafar, while 25 per cent were recorded in Sinjar. In Thi-Qar governorate, 87 per cent were recorded in the district of Nassriya, while 7 per cent were recorded in Suq Al-Shoyokh. Finally, in Anbar governorate, 51 per cent returned to the district of Ana and 26 per cent returned to Al-Ka'im. The majority of returnees (60%) were identified as having come from two countries: Turkey (38%) and the Syrian Arab Republic (22%)