HIGHLIGHTS
USAID Administrator Mark Green travels to Baghdad to meet with NGO partners and UN leadership
Relief organizations distribute winter assistance to nearly 60,000 IDPs
USAID/OFDA contributes nearly $6.6 million in FY 2018 to support returnees to Ninewa Plains
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
More than 3.3 million people have returned to areas of origin since 2014, while approximately 2.5 million Iraqis remain displaced, U.S. Government (USG) partner the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports. In coordination with the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster, the REACH Initiative conducted a national returns intention survey to inform humanitarian and Government of Iraq (GoI) camp closure and consolidation initiatives. The majority of surveyed internally displaced persons (IDPs) expressed no intent to return, citing a lack of safety in areas of origin as the primary deterrent. Relief agencies remain concerned regarding continued reports of forced evictions and premature camp consolidations, and continue to advocate for safe, dignified, and voluntary returns.
Despite the GoI declaration of victory over the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq on December 9, military operations to eliminate remaining ISIS elements are ongoing in central and western Iraq. The military operations, as well as persistent conflict and armed attacks, have resulted in civilian casualties and insecurity, preventing some displaced populations from returning to areas of origin, according to relief actors and media.
In late January, USAID Administrator Mark Green and other high-level USAID representatives traveled to Baghdad, Iraq, to meet with USG staff and discuss USAIDsupported humanitarian and development programs. During the visit, Administrator Green also met with UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Lise Grande and representatives from USAID/OFDA-supported non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to discuss the humanitarian situation in Iraq.