Faisal and his family were displaced from Syria in 2014 and moved between several camps in northern Iraq in Dohuk Governorate until he settled in the Damiz camp for Syrian refugees. Faisal works in the construction field and supports his family through this work. His wife is a housewife and his children are in school in the camp.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the recent donation of 940,000 Swiss Francs (approximately one million US dollars) from the Government of Switzerland. This funding will strengthen UNHCR’s programmes supporting refugees, internally displaced Iraqis and individuals at risk of statelessness in Iraq.
In particular, Switzerland’s contribution will enable UNHCR to maintain its core protection activities – including registration and legal assistance – while also strengthening national systems that support refugees on par with Iraqi nationals. It will also support UNHCR’s efforts to address the remaining needs for civil documentation among vulnerable displaced Iraqis. Since 2019, together with the Iraqi government, UNHCR has helped over 200,000 Iraqis obtain vital documents enabling them to access their most basic rights.
“Switzerland is dedicated to safeguarding human rights and supporting conflict-affected communities in Iraq. Through our partnership with UNHCR, we strive to empower refugees and achieve sustainable solutions for displaced populations,” said H.E. Emilija Georgieva, the Swiss Ambassador to Iraq based in Jordan, Amman.
The majority of refugees in Iraq are Syrians residing in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I). Most already have access to quality education and public health services, and also have opportunities to develop their livelihoods, mainly in the informal sector. Iraqi authorities have demonstrated a strong commitment to assume more responsibility towards Syrian and other refugees, however, continued donor support is crucial to ensure national structures are strengthened and able to service refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs).
“The partnership with Switzerland has been instrumental in helping UNHCR support long-term solutions for displaced populations in Iraq by further capacitating relevant authorities to deliver national IDs,” said Pauline Fresneau, UNHCR’s Acting Representative in Iraq.
UNHCR deeply appreciates Switzerland’s continued commitment to international protection, which remains a priority in Iraq as an integral part of solutions for displacement.”
Switzerland remains one of UNHCR’s key governmental partners, both globally and in Iraq. Flexible and predictable support from Switzerland has ensured that vital resources are available for the most pressing needs, as well as to help build the capacity of authorities and strengthen public services to facilitate refugee inclusion.
Iraq generously hosts about 300,000 refugees. While the majority reside within towns, villages and cities alongside Iraqi communities, about 32 percent reside in nine refugee camps in the KR-I. Refugees have limited prospects to return to their country given the ongoing insecurity and human rights and humanitarian law violations and abuse, and thus require continued support to become self-reliant and active members of their communities. There are over 1 million Iraqis who remain internally displaced with some 150,000 living in 21 IDP camps in the KR-I and for whom we will continue to work with the authorities to find dignified and sustainable solutions, including safe and voluntary return to areas of origin, relocation to other areas within the country, and local inclusion.
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