Iraq’s Invisible IDPs
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Over the course of the past decade, millions of Iraqis have been forced to flee their homes. Prior to 2014, approximately one million Iraqis were internally displaced, mostly due to the sectarian conflict of 2006 – 2008. Since January 2014, millions more have been uprooted by government-militant violence and the advance of the group known as the Islamic State or ISIS. Humanitarian access across Iraq has become more and more limited due to security concerns. One third of the country is now controlled by ISIS and therefore virtually out-of-reach to international organizations, and access in parts of the government-controlled areas, including Baghdad, is difficult and unreliable. As a result, many of Iraq’s 3.2 million internally displaced (IDPs) are in need of lifesaving assistance, including access to food, clean water, adequate shelter, and healthcare.