Iraq is still facing a serious displacement crisis with more than 2.4 million people internally displaced and some 2 million living in neighboring countries, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday.
In a latest report, the IOM said that displacement rates in Iraq slowed in 2007 with increased numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees returning to their places of origin.
But the returns remain very limited and in Baghdad represent only 8 percent of the overall number of displaced Iraqis, it said.
"The prolonged nature of the displacement crisis is increasing the plight of displaced families," said Dana Graber Ladek, the IOM's Iraq displacement specialist.
"Many can no longer afford to pay for even substandard shelter and have little access to basic services, such as clean water, sanitation and electricity," she said.
According to the report, only 22 percent of internally displaced Iraqis have access to regular food distributions. This, with inadequate shelter and poor services are a major cause of chronic health problems and malnutrition among women, children and the elderly.
The availability and quality of healthcare in Iraq had dramatically deteriorated in 2007 due to the continued exodus of qualified professionals, severe shortage of medical equipment and damaged infrastructures, the report said.
Despite insecurity and limited funding, IOM last year conducted16 Emergency Distributions that provided food and non-food items such as blankets, mattresses, fuel and kitchen sets to IDPs and their host communities.
The IOM also completed 38 Community Assistance Projects to improve basic services in the water, sanitation, health, education and livelihood sectors, benefiting more than 570,000 individuals.
The organization plans to continue these programs in 2008 and to expand its operations to monitor, assess and assist IDP populations returning to their places of origin, it said.
Source: Xinhua
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