Iraq's 2.8M Displaced Face Worse Yet

World migration body says Iraq’s almost 2.8 million internally displaced still face worsening living conditions.
GENEVA - Millions of internally displaced Iraqis still lack access to basic needs such as shelter, food, water and healthcare, the International
Organisation for Migration said on Friday.
The world body charged with overseeing migration said the rate of displacement had slowed to a trickle and more people were now returning to the war-torn country.
At the same time, however, "Iraq’s approximately 2.8 million internally displaced continue to face deteriorating living conditions with poor access to shelter, food, healthcare, water, and other basic services," it said.
In its review on internally displaced Iraqis and returnees during the first half of the year, the IOM found that about half of the population continue to get their water from unsafe sources - 53 percent from nearby rivers and streams and 52 percent from open or broken pipes.

Meanwhile, more than six in ten (63 percent) returning Iraqis also have to deal with spiralling rent prices.
In the Babylon area south of Baghdad, for instance, rental costs have risen over 50 percent since the beginning of 2006, said the report.
Other internally displaced persons (IDPs) are forced to squat in public buildings where they are threatened with eviction orders.

"Shelter is consistently among the highest-priority needs cited by IDPs, and eviction threats coupled with rapidly rising rental prices have created an even more precarious housing situation in recent months," said the report. Food access was also poor, only three in ten had regular access to food rations. About half had intermittent access and 21 percent no access at all.