Written question asked by Michael Connarty (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 23 March 2012. It was answered by Alan Duncan (Conservative) on Tuesday, 27 March 2012 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Iraq

Question: (2) what assistance his Department is providing to reduce the number of internally displaced people in Iraq;

Answer: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that there are around 1.3 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living in Iraq. Most are unable to return to their areas of origin because of the difficult security situation, the destruction of their homes, or a lack of access to services.Between 2003 and 2011 the Department for International Development (DFID) provided over £200 million of humanitarian assistance to IDPs, other vulnerable groups in Iraq, and Iraqi refugees outside Iraq, through the United Nations (UN) agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The UK will continue to provide support to populations affected by displacement in Iraq until 2014, as part of a project implemented in several countries by the Norwegian Refugee Council. Multilateral agencies such as the UN also continue to provide assistance in this area. In particular, the UNHCR is working with the Government of Iraq to end displacement, through a comprehensive plan which is due to become fully operational in 2012. The UK is also providing wider support to help create a more stable and prosperous Iraq, to which all Iraqis can return.

Secondary information