Since late 2013, an estimated 3.2 million people have been displaced within Iraq. Of this displaced population, around 300,000 individuals currently reside in formally recognized IDP camps. All others settled in host communities, including informal sites that are managed privately. For the purpose of this assessment, informal sites are all congregations of five or more IDP families, living outside a formal camp, and either within 1) the same shelter, 2) a shared boundary, or 3) similar shelter typology in close proximity (ie. tents), in line with the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) definition.
Informal sites are particularly prevalent in the central and southern governorates of Iraq and are often particularly vulnerable due to limited investment, tenancy concerns, overcrowding and frequent displacement, which has led to fractured service provision. Informal IDP sites in the centre and south of Iraq tend to be clustered along commonly used roads (such as the Kerbala-Najaf highway) or within urban centres (Baghdad), making it difficult to identify sites and prioritize needs. In addition, informal sites are particuarly difficult to service due to the fluidity of displacement and resettlement and the dispersement of sites within the host community. With a wide variation in conditions across informal IDP sites, planning and response need to take into account both critical short-term needs, as well as medium to longer-term needs.
To address these information needs, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster (CCCM) facilitates regular assessments of all identified informal IDP sites across accessible areas of Iraq. Now in its fifth round, the biannual the assessment rotates between the north of Iraq and the centre and south, depending on partner needs. One previous round has been conducted in the south (February-May 2015) and three in the north (October 2014, December 2014, October-December 2015).
This report presents Round V of the Site Assessment, which covered 1,334 informal sites across 11 governorates in central and southern Iraq. Findings are drawn from primary data collected by IOM and REACH between February–May 2016, based on information collected through key informant interviews with representatives of each assessed site. This information builds upon data gathered in past CCCM Informal Site Assessments to provide comprehensive, iterative, and operational findings to inform the humanitarian response to IDPs living in these sites.