Preparedness & Response

In post-conflict Iraq, many IDPs face protracted displacement and urgent need of vital services. New and secondary displacement is occurring, and families who stay in displacement tend to be some of the most vulnerable, including families who are unable, unwilling or experiencing barriers to return. This includes a high proportion of woman-headed households, persons with disabilities and individuals with other complex protection needs.

IOM Iraq works to support communities to be prepared before, during and after emergencies by building emergency response capacity and promoting safe, dignified and liveable conditions for displaced families — in both formal and informal settlements — returnees and host communities.

Non-Food Item Kits

IOM Iraq provides in-kind Non-Food Item (NFI) assistance to displaced and returned households lacking funds for or access to items essential to survival. Basic NFI kits include items such as cooking stoves, mattresses and kitchen sets; seasonal kits include items such as weather-appropriate blankets, kerosene heaters and rechargeable lights to help vulnerable families cope with Iraq’s harsh winter and summer months; and replacement kits replenish specific items families require from previously received kits. In addition to in-kind assistance, IOM Iraq offers conditional and restricted cash and e-vouchers for NFIs, assuring beneficiaries a degree of choice and flexibility in how to cover their most pressing needs.

Shelter

IOM Iraq coordinates and conducts shelter operations across Iraq in order to protect the survival, security and dignity of vulnerable populations. These efforts include both direct and contractor-based rehabilitation of war damaged homes and shelters for returnees, the upgrade of critical shelters for the displaced and the provision of cash for beneficiary-led shelter rehabilitation work. IOM Iraq also enhances safe and efficient access to camps by supporting the rehabilitation of camp roads.

Camp Coordination and Camp Management

IOM Iraq’s Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) programme features four major components: three focused on formal settlements and one on informal sites. In formal IDP camps, the programme provides camp management support to local authorities and NGOs, capacity-building trainings for camp management actors and direct camp management through community mobilization, information management and care and maintenance activities. Interventions include site infrastructure repair, electrical upgrades, water pipe and tap upkeep and more. In informal IDP sites, Mobile Response Teams (MRTs) — including technical specialists and capacity-building focal points — are deployed to improve site management and mitigate risks and hazards.

IOM Iraq is the co-lead for the CCCM Cluster under the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Humanitarian Cluster System in Iraq.

Transportation

Arranging the safe and orderly movement of refugees and other vulnerable persons is a cornerstone of IOM’s mandate. IOM Iraq provides transportation services to both IDPs and Syrian refugees seeking to move between border checkpoints and camps, those in need of relocation due to camp closure and consolidation processes and those travelling for family reunification.

Communication with Communities

IOM Iraq’s Communication with Communities (CwC) initiatives use participatory methodology to promote culturally sensitive two-way communication with crisis-affected populations and disseminate information on a variety of topics such as health awareness, camp safety, shelter kit set-up and irregular migration. The CwC programme is grounded in collaborative, mutual learning with the objective of addressing information gaps and needs of displaced and host communities to support them in making informed decisions about their current situations and futures. These initiatives are diverse, ranging from awareness-raising workshops and informational flyer distribution to focus group discussions and participatory theatre projects.