Highlights
• As of 30 November 2015, 3,190,710 people (531,785 families) were displaced across Iraq and 453,318 individuals were reported as returned to their place of origin (IOM).
• In one incident on 26 November, eight children were reportedly killed and six injured near the city of Fallujah. UNICEF remains concerned for the safety of Iraq’s children and urges all parties to the conflict to abide by international principles to protect all civilians, especially children, from violence.
• In November, UNICEF protection services reached 4,730 children; 4,263 children received psychosocial support services, 441 children received specialized services and 26 Unaccompanied and Separated Children were documented.
• Polio National Immunization Days (PNIDs) took place in Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Governorates in November; 106,846 children were reached during the 5-day campaign.
• UNICEF supported 115 most vulnerable IDP families who fled from hot spot areas in Salah Al-Din Governorate with sets of bottled water, hygiene kits, and other items.
• In November, 440 IDP teachers were trained in Psychosocial Support (PSS) and classroom management in 7 governorates.
• Over 2,800 cholera cases were confirmed at the Central Public Health Laboratory as of 22 November, with cases in 17 governorates; however, numbers of reported cases have declined throughout the month.
• Since the start of “Warm for Winter” project, 69,970 IDPs (35,229 boys, 33,588 girls and 1,153 pregnant women) received winter clothing, shoes and blankets in Dahuk, Sulaymaniyah, and Baghdad governorates.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
People in need of urgent humanitarian assistance:
8.2 million people, of which:
3.7 million children and
3.1 million IDPs
Target population in 2015 (revised):
WASH: 3,790,000
Health: 484,000
Education: 550,000
Child Protection: 108,000
Rapid Response: 4,000,000
UNICEF Requirements 2015 (revised):
US$ 160 million
Funds received 2015:
US$ 67 million
Situation Overview and Humanitarian Need
An estimated 8.2 million people across Iraq remain in need of humanitarian assistance, including internally displaced people (IDPs), Syrian refugees, returnees and host communities, as well as affected populations in Armed Opposition Group (AOG) held areas. As of 30 November 2015, 3,190,710 people (531,785 families) were displaced across Iraq. Numbers of people reported as returned to their place of origin (‘returnees’) are 453,318 individuals2 . According to the Camp Coordination and Management Cluster, 58 official IDP camps are active across Iraq and a further six (6) are currently under construction, in addition to 37 collective centers 3 and numerous informal settlements. Humanitarian access remains hampered by ongoing fighting, leaving some of the most vulnerable Iraqis trapped without humanitarian assistance in ISIL-controlled areas. Sporadic returns are also taking place to the areas of origin where change in security conditions has improved. However, return areas are severely lacking in basic services or infrastructure as a result of violent conflict. Lack of liquidity in banks remains an ongoing challenge across Iraq.
In November UNICEF, leading the WASH cluster, and the World Health Organisation (WHO), leading the Health cluster, continued to collaborate with relevant Ministries to respond to the cholera outbreak affecting 17 out of 18 governorates. As of 22 November 2015, over 2,800 cases4 were confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL). Suspected cholera cases were tested at both provincial and central levels. Duplicated testing caused delay in official confirmation of cases. The most-affected governorates were in Iraq’s central zone; of those, the districts for whom the Euphrates River is the main source of water reported nearly two-thirds of all cases (WHO). Reportedly cases declined in November; males (55 percent) remained slightly more affected than females, and the most affected age groups are those aged under 10 years (21 percent) and those aged 20-29 years (22 percent) (WHO/MoH).