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600,000 Displaced Families Return Home in Iraq

Experts clearing ISIS mines in the old city of Mosul (Reuters)
Experts clearing ISIS mines in the old city of Mosul (Reuters)
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600,000 Displaced Families Return Home in Iraq

Experts clearing ISIS mines in the old city of Mosul (Reuters)
Experts clearing ISIS mines in the old city of Mosul (Reuters)

Displacement in Iraq still constitutes a challenge for the authorities in Baghdad, Kurdistan, and international organizations even after five years of the military defeat of ISIS.

The Ministry of Migration and Displacement spokesman, Ali Abbas Jahakir, asserts that the total number of displaced families has reached 900,000, adding that about 600,000 of them have returned home.

Jahakir told Asharq Al-Awsat that there are 26 displacement camps distributed over the governorates of the Kurdistan region, with 16 in Dohuk, six in Erbil, four in Sulaymaniyah, and one in al-Jada, in addition to a rehabilitation center in Mosul.

He added that the total number of families living in these camps is 37,000, totaling 170,000 citizens of all ages.

Jahakir stated that the official data confirmed by the Ministry of Immigration indicates 900,000 families had escaped conflict areas in the western and northern governorates after the rise of ISIS in June 2014.

He said that 600,000 families have already returned to their towns, noting that the remaining figure of 300,000 families is inaccurate, because many of them, especially the Yazidi, Turkmen, Shabak, and Christian minorities, left the country.

The spokesman said many returnees did not register their official return for various reasons.

Earlier, the Ministry of Immigration refused to force the displaced to return to their homes and gave them the choice of staying in camps.

Despite the living conditions in the camps, most of the displaced preferred to stay for fear of reprisals or lack of job opportunities in their hometowns. Some also still don't have homes.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) confirmed that it had helped five million displaced Iraqis return home."

The Program's resident representative in Iraq, Zena Ali-Ahmed, told the Iraqi News Agency that Iraq has gone through several crises and wars, and the UNDP launched the project to restore stability in the liberated areas with the support of the local government in five governorates.

She indicated that 30 donor countries, including the United Kingdom and Canada, participated in the efforts to ensure the security of the liberated areas.

Ali-Ahmed added that part of the project aims to coordinate with the demining units of the military force, asserting that rehabilitating the infrastructure cannot take place without removing mines.

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Arab World

Aoun: Rebuilding Lebanon is Not Difficult if Intentions are Sincere

President Joseph Aoun welcoming his visitors at the Baabda Palace (Lebanese Presidency)
President Joseph Aoun welcoming his visitors at the Baabda Palace (Lebanese Presidency)
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Aoun: Rebuilding Lebanon is Not Difficult if Intentions are Sincere

President Joseph Aoun welcoming his visitors at the Baabda Palace (Lebanese Presidency)
President Joseph Aoun welcoming his visitors at the Baabda Palace (Lebanese Presidency)

President Joseph Aoun said the Lebanese “must unite to rebuild the country, a task that is not difficult if intentions are sincere.”
He underscored the importance of forming a government that aligns with the aspirations of the Lebanese people and enables the country to recover, particularly on the economic front.
Aoun pointed out that the swift formation of a government would send a positive signal internationally, demonstrating that Lebanon is on the right track. He reiterated that everyone must rise to the occasion, stating: “Those who cannot bear the responsibility should not hold positions of authority.”
Calling for collective efforts to serve the public good, Aoun remarked that Lebanon’s strength lies in all its citizens, regardless of sectarian affiliations. He stressed the importance of mobilizing the potential of both residents and expatriates to contribute to the nation’s revival.
The president made these statements during a meeting with Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan of the Syriac Catholic Church, and Catholicos-Patriarch Raphael Bedros of the Armenian Catholic Church. The three religious leaders visited the presidential palace to congratulate him on his election.
“We are at a crossroads. While we have many opportunities ahead, it is up to us to either seize them or lose them. We must unite to rebuild the country, a task that is not difficult if intentions are sincere. Otherwise, we must bear the consequences of our choices,” the president said.
He continued: “We have received many positive signals and invitations from abroad. In return, we must also send positive messages. God willing, this will culminate in the formation of a government that meets the aspirations of the Lebanese people, functions effectively, and allows the country to recover, especially economically, so it can get back on the right path.”
Aoun concluded: “Lebanon has untapped potential, both at home and within its diaspora, that must be activated to serve the country. This requires an approach based on prioritizing the public interest with transparency and cooperation. This is what the world expects from us, and if we achieve it, they will support us.”