UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...

D. Internal Flight or Relocation Alternative
A detailed analytical framework for assessing the availability of an internal flight
alternative or internal relocation alternative (IFA/IRA), is contained in UNHCR’s 2003
“Guidelines on International Protection: the “Internal Flight or Relocation Alternative”
within the context of Article 1A(2) of the 1951 Convention and/or 1967 Protocol relating to
the Status of Refugees”. 787
As provided in the Guidelines, in order to assess the possibility of applying an IFA/IRA,
two main sets of analyses should be undertaken, namely whether internal relocation is
1) relevant and, if so, whether it is 2) reasonable. The determination of whether the
proposed internal flight or relocation area is an appropriate alternative in the particular case
requires an assessment over time, taking into account not only the circumstances that gave
rise to the persecution feared, and that prompted flight from the original area, but also
whether the proposed area provides a meaningful alternative in the future.
In the context of Iraq, UNHCR’s analysis distinguishes between the situation in South and
Central Iraq and the situation in the three Northern Governorates. The availability of an
IFA/IRA in the latter area would also depend on whether the individual concerned is from
Central and Southern Iraq or from within the three Governorates themselves.
1. IFA/IRA in Areas of Central and Southern Iraq
UNHCR considers that an internal flight or relocation alternative in Central and Southern
Iraq is on the whole not available, because of the overall ability of agents of persecution to
perpetrate acts of violence with impunity, the widespread violence and prevalent human
rights violations giving rise to new risks of persecution, risks associated with travel, and the
hardship faced in ensuring even basic survival in areas of relocation. When, however, the
availability of an internal flight or relocation alternative must be assessed in a national
procedure, it should be examined cautiously and in the context of the individual claim.
UNHCR’s Guidelines on Internal Flight/Relocation Alternative 788 should be taken into
account.
a) The Relevance Analysis
i. Risk of Persecution or Other Serious Harm Upon Relocation
As indicated in these Guidelines, persecution could emanate from state as well as non-state
agents. Within Central and Southern Iraq, both state and non-state agents of persecution
could pursue their targets throughout and state agents are known to be able to operate with
impunity. In regard to non-state agents of persecution, protection by national authorities
would on the whole not be available given the fact that the national authorities have limited
capacities to enforce law and order, and the security agencies, namely the ISF, are
787
UNHCR, Guidelines on International Protection No. 4: “Internal Flight or Relocation Alternative”, see
above footnote 4.
788
Ibid.
151