One third of displaced Iraqis deprived of humanitarian assistance

19 July 2007

Baghdad-One third of displaced Iraqis do not receive humanitarian assistance with total silence from the international community, a recent report by the Geneva-based International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

According to the report, there are 2.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq, 68% of whom reported receiving some sort of humanitarian aid in 2007, compared to 71% in 2006.

The half-yearly report, which was released on Tuesday, revealed that 60,000 people have been displaced per month in 2007.

"Despite the crisis reaching astounding proportions and an increasing awareness by the international community, donors have been slow to respond," the report read, adding, "Despite the deteriorating security situation and increased risk to humanitarian agencies, IOM continues to provide life-sustaining assistance to IDPs and host communities."

"In 2007 the largest displacements continue to originate from Baghdad, which is the place of origin for the majority (69%) of post-February 2006 IDPs," the report explained.

"The humanitarian crisis may well intensify as new IDPs are increasingly turned away from safe areas and already displaced populations exhaust their meager finances," it added.

Based on what the organization described as in-depth displacement data collection and analysis, IOM said, "The majority (63%) of those assessed reported that they fled direct threats to life, and over a quarter said that they had been forcibly displaced from their property. When asked why they were targeted, 89% said it was due to their religious/sectarian identity."

Representing 64% of the total number of IDPs in the country, Shiites were reported as the largest religious group to be displaced and Sunnis came second with 30% of the displaced, the report indicated.