Date:4th November, 2015
Venue: Rotana
- Lise Grande, Deputy UN-SRSG & Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (Chair)
- Darbaz Jaff, Minister of Migration & Displacement, Iraq
- Ali Sindi, Minister of Planning, KRG
- Belinda Lewis, Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Baghdad
There are currently more than 3.2 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Iraq with around 1 million currently residing in the Kurdistan Region. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 87% originate from the governorates of Anbar, Ninewa, and Salah al-Din and are “in need of comprehensive support;” most fled their homes only with what they could carry.”
“we cannot provide the IDPs with sufficient opportunity for jobs and schooling.”
Darbaz Mohammed
The IDP crisis has created the need for a sustainable long-term political solution. In addition, the burden on host communities is increasing because of the civil war in Syria. At the moment, there are around 250,000 Syrian refugees in the KRI.
“With returning IDPs, there needs to be security and an opportunity to earn a living.”
Belinda Lewis
Accordingly, this panel will focus on the consequences of an increasingly protracted displacement crisis on the political, social and economic fabric of Iraq. Furthermore, it is expected that panellists will propose effective short- and long-term policy solutions to meet these challenges that serve the greater good of both displaced populations and host communities alike.