IDP Camp in Basra, a Story of Social Cohesion

In Basra, vocational training in sewing, hairdressing, carpentry, plumbing, electricity, cookery and bakery, as well as short business courses, have bolstered entrepreneurship and job creation benefiting to more than 1,000 displaced people—with one third of the beneficiaries being women in 2015. This is especially important in that 63% of the camp’s households are headed by women and are in dire need of income.

The camp project is run by UNDP’s local partner, the Canadian Aid Organization for Iraqi Society and Rehabilitation (CAOFISR), in close cooperation with the Governorate’s Committee for Internally Displaced Persons.

"Without the United Nations, and particularly UNDP, it would have been difficult for Basra to support such a large number of internally displaced people," said Wameeth Alajwadi from the Governorate’s Committee for Internally Displaced Persons. "And we now expect these numbers to increase daily," he concluded.

Basra is home to at least 1,821 families or 10,926 internally displaced persons in 215 locations mainly in non-camp settings, who fled violence in Anbar, Babylon, Baghdad, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa, Salah al-Din. These numbers are increasing daily due to recent counter-insurgency operations in Anbar and Salah al-Din. (Source: IOM, April 2015).

The main agencies, which supported the establishment of the 5-Miles camp, are UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, IOM, UNOPS and UN-HABITAT in their respective roles such as providing shelter, food and WASH. UNESCO and UNICEF have built the elementary schools now serving more than 400 children.

(Source: UNDP in Iraq)