Attachments
Key Figures
Affected Population
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1.5 million people expected to be impacted in Mosul and surrounding areas
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793,422 people currently displaced
Return Population
- 300,576 IDPs have returned to their places of origin from the beginning of the Mosul operation to date.
Protection Monitoring
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52,305 families assessed
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247,799 individuals
HIGHLIGHTS: The ongoing tension and military clashes between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Central Government continue to cause displacement and to influence premature and spontaneous returns.
New displacement due to disputed territory shifts
The continued movement of Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) into disputed areas like Makhmur (Erbil Governorate), and Zummar and Rabia sub-districts (both in Ninewa Governorate) has resulted in displacement from these areas amidst fears of escalating conflict, acts of ethnic victimisation and looting.
In Makhmur, displacement and secondary displacement continued this week from Debaga camp (south east of Mosul) and also from areas in the vicinity of Makhmur District Centre when Kurdish Security Forces (KSF), ISF and PMF started targeting each other with mortar rounds. Fleeing Kurdish families headed towards Erbil city, while camp based displaced populations moved towards other governorates including Kirkuk, and to camps located in the south of Mosul such as Qayyarah Airstrip,
Haj Ali, and Jad’dah due to the proximity to their areas of origin should the fighting cease. While humanitarian actors continue to respond, humanitarian services have been negatively affected by frequent checkpoint closures and clashes causing even more families to contemplate leaving the camp towards what families perceive to be safer areas. UNHCR partner teams continue to provide protection monitoring and protection services in Haj Ali and Jad’dah camps. However significant gaps remain due to persistent challenges related to militarization of a number of camps located in the south of Mosul and the associated protection risks that are unresolved despite high level advocacy. The most significant challenges relate to gender-based violence and targeting of vulnerable families from recently retaken areas.
Since the tensions escalated on 15 October, at least 19 Kurdish villages have emptied in Zummar and Rabia with people moving towards Zakho and Sumel in Dahuk Governorate. According to local authorities approximately 2,500 families have fled. In addition, humanitarian actors operating in these areas have withdrawn staff and suspended services due to security concerns. A number of fleeing families have sought accommodation with relatives and friends but protection monitoring has also revealed that a number of families have sought shelter in substandard accommodation, unfinished buildings, fields, parks, and empty schools. Local and international humanitarian actors have been on the ground providing necessary support such as food and non-food items to the families.