IOM has implemented a longitudinal study on entitled “Access to Durable Solutions Among IDPs in Iraq” since 2015 in partnership with Georgetown University in order to understand how IDPs navigate their displacement and take steps to build lasting durable solutions. This study draws from the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) framework on Durable Solutions for IDPs, which lays a foundation for government and humanitarian actors to better address the self-identified needs of IDPs.

With the onset of COVID-19 in Iraq, cities face particularly high risk of virus transmission given their relatively dense populations. This is especially true for those urban locations hosting large shares of the remaining 1.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs).  The current situation thus makes it necessary to better understand the policy and regulatory landscape that surrounds IDPs in relation to the public health crisis, which may help or hinder their ability to pursue local integration as a durable solution to displacement.

The “Access to Durable Solutions Among IDPs in Iraq” panel study conducted by IOM Iraq and Georgetown University has yielded significant insight into the lived experiences of IDPs over time, the dynamics of Iraqi displacement and the changing perceptions of IDPs about their current situation as well as their aspirations for solutions.