Iraq: Number of Internally Displaced People Reaches Beyond 1,753,302

Local Editor

International Organization for Migration or IOM's latest figures in Iraq indicates continued gradual increase in displacement figures.

There are 1,753,302 internally displaced people [292,217 families] in Iraq who have been displaced by the current crisis; this represents an increase of 27,870 people [4,645 families] since mid-September.

The increase in the population over the recent last two weeks results from an influx of displaced persons from and within central and southern Iraq fleeing armed conflict.

Furthermore, most displaced people have originated from districts heavily impacted by conflict: Ninewa: 50 per cent [145,671 families]; Anbar: 28 per cent [83,154 families]; Salah al-Din: 13 per cent [37,935]; and Diyala: 5 per cent [14,981].

Several displaced Iraqis fled their homes after the so-called "Daesh" [ISIL] offensives in June.

Meanwhile, a senior UN official warned on Tuesday that the grave humanitarian crisis in Iraq will become "a deadly life-threatening situation'' if shelter isn't found for over before winter weather arrives in about six weeks.
"Our fear is unless we can provide the shelter and also the items to help people live through the winter, what is currently a very difficult and grave United Nations humanitarian challenge will transform itself into a deadly life-threatening situation for many of the IDPS [internally displaced persons],'' he said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team