UN official urges Kurdistan RegionG to solve IDPs problem

ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: A United Nations official said on Sunday that he called on the Kurdistan Region Government (Iraq is going through. “The displaced families in the region, nearly 30,000, are going through tough conditions and need more efforts by the region’s government,” said Walter Kaelin, Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights of IDPs, in a press conference during his eight-day visit to Iraq. “The complexity of the internal displacement situation in Iraq requires stronger efforts by the Government and the international community to protect the human rights of displaced persons, address their immediate needs and find durable solutions to end their displacement. This can only be done on the basis of an inclusive and comprehensive strategy that takes into account all communities affected by displacement, including host communities and communities in areas of return” said Walter Kaelin. “I am encouraged by the progress to date, and in particular by the cooperation between the Iraqi authorities and the international community to address the humanitarian and human rights situation of displaced persons in Iraq”, stated Kaelin. Significant achievements to date have included the national policy on displacement of July 2008 and special measures introduced to facilitate return, reintegration and restitution of property. In addition, the Representative commended the Government for the important commitments made in relation to displaced persons during the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review in February of this year – a process by which a States’ human rights situation is periodically reviewed and recommendations made. “I believe that this visit is an opportunity to build on and carry forward these recommendations, which were agreed by the Iraqi Government.” Kaelin stressed “we stand ready to support the Government’s stated commitments to develop a national action plan to provide assistance and compensation to internally displaced persons and, in this context, to pay special attention to persons with special needs, including displaced widows, female headed households, and children ” said Kaelin. Iraq has suffered many waves of internal displacement throughout its recent past as a result of conflict, sectarian violence, and forced population movements associated with policies of the former regime. According to Government figures, an estimated 1.55 million persons have remained in displacement since 2006, while a significant number of people were also displaced prior to 2006. Some 500,000 Iraqis, of which a majority are believed to be internally displaced persons, currently live in informal settlements in Baghdad and other cities on land or in public buildings which they do not own and face potential eviction. “I am calling on competent authorities to declare a moratorium on evictions until the envisaged new strategy on internal displacement provides a clear plan and viable alternatives for these persons which are in line with international standards,” said the Representative. Suffering severe over-crowding and inadequate shelters, internally displaced people in these irregular settlements have limited or no access to water and other essential services such as sanitation facilities and garbage collection. This creates serious health hazards, particularly among children and the elderly. “Measures in the immediate should be taken to address the dire living conditions in these settlements, and efforts must be strengthened to find alternative housing and long term solutions, including allocation of land plots” stressed Kaelin. “A two-pronged approach is necessary to address the situation of internal displacement in Iraq”, said the Representative. “Efforts to identify and implement durable solutions for disp