UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...

egulations regarding entry and residency are subject to change without prior notice, such
that the information provided below may no longer be current by the time of publication of
these Guidelines.
Access of IDPs to the city of Fallujah in the Governorate of Al-Anbar and the Governorates
of Kerbala, Basrah 804 and Babylon 805 is restricted to families originating from these areas,
due to overcrowding of public buildings, overloading of basic services and security
concerns. In the Governorate of Najaf, IDPs not originating from the city of Najaf are not
allowed to settle in the city centre but must live in suburbs or outer districts. As a
consequence, the Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) is no longer registering
IDPs not originating from these areas. For example, there are reports that in the
Governorate of Kerbala approximately 5,000 IDP families are not registered and
accordingly do not have access to services (see below). Latest reports suggest that persons
identified as IDPs (e.g. carrying personal belongings or furniture) are being turned away at
entry checkpoints.
Registration of new IDPs in the Governorate of Kirkuk is hindered by political motives
related to the upcoming referendum on the status of the Governorate later in 2007.
Reportedly, the local authorities issued an order banning new IDPs from the Governorate,
though it appears not to be fully enforced.
For security purposes, local authorities in the Governorates of Thi-Qar and Muthanna
began in early 2007 to register IDPs only if they belonged to one of the tribes in these
Governorates. IDPs are required to register with the National Security Directorate and need
to have a sponsor who must be a local government employee. Only if these conditions are
met will the IDP be registered by MoDM.
Failure to register may result in blocked access to basic services, including food rations,
fuel and any kind of protection. Persons relocating to the aforementioned Governorates
may be at risk of expulsion or face undue hardship if only allowed to reside outside the city
centers with little access to services and subject to possible rejection by local
communities. 806
b) The Reasonableness Analysis
Overall, for the reasons set out below and as demonstrated by the difficulties faced by IDPs
in Central and Southern Iraq, UNHCR considers it unreasonable to expect an individual
fleeing persecution in Iraq to relocate to an area in Central and Southern Iraq. Such an
individual would not be able to lead a relatively normal life without undue hardship. Lack
of basic facilities and difficulties with livelihoods and survival render it extremely harsh for
804
Until recently, IDPs had to provide evidence that they originate from a mixed area and that their
displacement was caused by sectarian violence.
805
In the Governorate of Babel, professionals are allowed to enter even if they do not originate from the
Governorate.
806
Cluster F, Update 23 May 2007, see above footnote 22.
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