Access to Durable Solutions for IDPs in Iraq

Migration, both forced and voluntary, has long been a major part of Iraqis’ lives. Over the past three decades, close to six million Iraqis (out of a total population of 33 million) have been forcibly displaced inside Iraq. Most recently, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)’s swift takeover of areas of northwestern Iraq, begun in December 2013, has displaced an additional three million Iraqis. As a result, many Iraqis have been doubly- or even triply-displaced while others languish in situations of protracted displacement, with few opportunities to return home, integrate in their host communities, or settle in a third location. This project collects and analyzes data from 4,000 internally displaced households (IDPs) about the three durable solutions of return, integration, or resettlement. The data collection is longitudinal; families were interviewed and surveyed in Summer 2016, tracked and then re-interviewed between December and February 2017. The third wave of data collection is planned for late Fall 2017. The longitudinal nature of the study allows unique tracking of IDP access to durable solutions over time, which will ultimately allow us to understand:

when and why people move;
people’s access to and utilization of durable solutions in different contexts; and
the factors that correlate with IDPs finding and creating durable solutions such as different forms of capital—social, economic, or cultural), external aid, and educational opportunities, among others).

This study is receiving funding from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. For further information, contact Katharine Donato.

Reports & Publications

The publications resulting from the study follow. More details on the study are below.

Access to Durable Solutions Among IDPs in Iraq: Five Years in Displacement

Cover of the report Access to Durable Solutions Among IDPs in Iraq

This report delves into three critical topics relating to IDP and returnee households: education, healthcare, and justice. November, 2020

Access to Durable Solutions Among IDPs in Iraq: Livelihoods and Economic Security in Displacement

Focuses on IDPs’ and returnees’ opportunities for livelihoods and abilities to make ends meet, November 2020

Cover of Access to Durable Solutions Report

Access to Durable Solutions Among IDPs in Iraq: Unpacking the Policy Implications
Policy implications for the Iraqi government, the national and international humanitarian community, and researchers studying displacement, Oct 2020