Highlights
A total of 3,114 Syrians entered KR-I through the Peshkhabour border post during the reporting period. The number of total arrivals on a 15-day visa increased by 6%. Out of them, no new arrivals were granted entry as asylum-seekers or on the grounds of family reunification a significant drop compared to early 2015 when some 50% of new arrivals entered in Iraq as asylum seekers.
On 30 March, an international conference in Geneva highlighted the need for States to increase resettlement programs or humanitarian admissions of Syrian refugees. UNHCR estimates that at least 10 per cent of the 4.8 million refugees in countries neighbouring Syria will need resettlement or other humanitarian assistance to safely move elsewhere before the end of 2018. Several countries offered to increase significantly their global resettlement programs further this year and in the coming years. However, with 38% of UNHCR estimated resettlement needs covered for Syrian refugees, an even greater increase in the number of places countries are willing to offer for Syrian refugees will have to be achieved to match the number of places UNHCR believes is needed.
UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS
Operational Context
Since March the Syrian conflict has entered its sixth year and millions of Syrians continue to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, including Iraq. At its peak Iraq hosted more than a quarter of a million refugees, many of them arrived in Iraq more than three years ago, and have not yet been able to return.
As of March 2016, there are around 246,000 Syrian registered refugees in Iraq, including some 40,000 Syrian children under five who have effectively spent their life between conflict and displacement.
In the past year and a half, security in Iraq has deteriorated dramatically as armed groups have taken control of significant areas of territory, causing circa 3.3 million Iraqis to flee their homes and seek safety in other areas of the country. In central Iraq, Iraqi Security forces (ISF) are attempting to retake areas of Anbar province, while armed militant groups remain in control of Fallujah city. In the North, the ISF together with the Kurdish Security forces (KSF) have made steady, but limited progress towards Mosul in Makhmour district, south of Erbil Governorate. The fighting has caused the displacement of some 4,000 individuals who fled towards the town of Makhmour.
Areas in northern Iraq already hosting Syrian refugees are also among the locations bearing the heaviest burden of internally displaced populations. Public services have become overstretched. The ongoing economic crisis as well as low oil prices have had severe impacts on the general situation for the Government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government. Delays in salary payments of government employees as well as interruptions to public services have caused frustration within the host community.
Overcrowded schools, disruption to formal education, including examinations have significantly impacted children while lists of Syrian refugee families wishing to enter refugee camps are growing, a clear indication of the economic difficulties they are facing. Likewise, there are serious protection concerns over an increase in female-headed households in camps due to the continued migration of males to third countries.