Kurdistan News AgencyIRAQ INDEPENDENT NEWS

2011 Sees Second Most Refugee Returns Since 2003 Invasion Of Iraq

By Joel Wing*

2011 saw the second most refugee returns to Iraq since the 2003 invasion. There were already hundreds of thousands of refugees inside and out of the country due to the previous regime’s Anfal campaign against the Kurds, and the suppression of the Shiite uprising following the 1991 Gulf War. The overthrow of Saddam Hussein, and the subsequent insurgency and civil war, set off a new wave of displacement in the country, adding one to two more million refugees. Since the sectarian war ended in 2008 however, more and more Iraqis have been making the trip back.

The number of Iraqis returning has gone up and down over the last eight years. In 2003, an estimated 55,429 refugees came back to Iraq according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The following year saw the most returns so far at 291,997. Around 98,000 were internally displaced, and 193,997 were refugees. After that, the numbers began to go down until hitting a low in 2007. In 2005, 154,155 came back. That went up a little to 170,235 in 2006, before going way down to 81,420 in 2007. The next two years saw a large increase at 221,260 in 2008, and 204,830 in 2009. In 2010, there was a drop to 118,890. Then last year, there was another large jump to 260,690. 193,610 of those were internally displaced. In total, from 2003-2008 1,558,906 Iraqis returned. 1,031,720, 66% were displaced, while 527,186 were refugees. The UNHCR speculated that the improvement in security, and an increase in government aid offered to returnees were the two main reasons why Iraqis came back. If that were true however, there should have been a steady number of people coming back from 2008 to 2011. Instead, there was a large drop in 2010 compared to the other three years. The United Nations believed that was due to uncertainty over the country's future during parliamentary elections that were held that year. The unrest in the Middle East was likely a motivating factor as 2011 saw the second highest number of refugees coming back since 2004. The numbers bore that out with the UNHCR recording 28,230 Iraqis making the trip from Syria in 2011, compared to 29,135 from 2009-2010. 985 Iraqis also came back from Libya, compared to around 400 from 2009-2010. With Syria on the verge of civil war, returns should continue at a high rate going into 2012 as well.

Iraqi Displaced And Refugee Returns 2003-2011

Monthly Returns 2011

During 2011, the rate of return steadily climbed from the beginning of the year until the middle, when it hit a plateau. From January to March, from 6,170 to 8,870 Iraqis came back. Then the numbers began to increase from 13,500 in April, to 21,400 in May, then leveling off before hitting a yearly high at 43,880 in August. After that 20,000-30,000 returned each month for the rest of 2011. Baghdad was the main destination for these people with around 150,400 returnees. That was followed by 53,790 coming back to Diyala, 7,880 to Najaf, 7,470 to Basra, and 7,290 to Karbala to finish off the top five provinces. The increase in 2011 was due to both internally displaced and refugees returning in the second half of the year.

2011 Returns By Province

Despite 1.5 million people returning, there were still almost the same number registered as refugees. In August 2011, there were 1,258,934 internally displaced registered with the Iraqi government. There were another 168,765 refugees counted by the United Nations in Syria, 101,904, Jordan, 33,677, Turkey, 10,712, Lebanon, 9,246, Egypt, 7,527, Iran, 3,512, and the Gulf States, 2,186. That’s no where near the total for Iraqi refugees, as many have been living abroad for five to seven years now. Many have gotten jobs, and started over, and no longer need to go to the United Nations for aid and assistance. The figure for the displaced, is probably much closer to the actual figure. That showed that there are still a large number of people suffering from the Iraq conflict both within and without the country.

Internal Refugees Registered With Iraqi Ministry of Displacement August 2011

Iraqi Refugees Registered With U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees By Country

The displacement of Iraqis is largely over. There are occasional attacks, that drive people from their homes, but it is nothing like what was seen during the civil war period from 2005-2008. Now, more and more Iraqis are coming back. That has not been at a steady rate as the last three years have shown. The unrest in the Middle East appeared to be an impetus for more refugees coming back last year than the year before. Improved security is also providing a push for internally displaced. Despite 1.5 million coming back, there are still an estimated 2 million who are not living in their original homes. Many of those have decided to settle where they live, either abroad or within Iraq. The displaced are still facing difficulties with that transition, leading to so many to register with the Ministry of Displacement seeking aid. The plight of refugees appears a little better off as only around 168,000 are still going to the United Nations for assistance. Many more have apparently moved on with their lives in other countries. Iraq was suffering from a large refugee problem before 2003 due to the policies of Saddam Hussein. His fall from power only added more people to that mix. For the last couple years at least, it appears that large numbers of Iraqis are deciding to reverse that trend and comeback to their country.

With an MA in International Relations, Joel Wing has been researching and writing about Iraq since 2002. His acclaimed blog, Musings on Iraq, is currently listed by the New York Times and the World Politics Review. In addition, Mr. Wing’s work has been cited by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Guardian and the Washington Independent.
RY/Aknews