The Iraqi government constantly tells IDPs to go home. The authorities threaten to close down the camps and sack teachers who do not report to work in their cities.
The IDPs too wish to go home and start a new life, they say, but their cities still lie in ruins, their homes bombed, and there is no water, electricity or health centers.
Hamad Ali waited to hear from relatives who had gone home. He was advised not to return.
”If the situation and services are good we will return. Lots of people have returned, but they regretted it. They want to return to the camps because there is no water, no electricity, and no health care. The government says they want to take us back, but nothing is clear.” Ali told Rudaw.
Lack of health services is the biggest problem here. The Iraqi government closes camp health centers to force refugees to go home. There were plans to close all the camps by the end of 2018.
2.5 million people are internally displaced in Iraq. 47% of these IDPs live in 48 camps in Kurdistan Region.
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