UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...
UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...
UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...
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persons to live normal lives at even basic subsistence levels within Central and Southern<br />
Iraq.<br />
i. Access to Food (Public Distribution System, PDS)<br />
The majority of families in Iraq are dependent on the Public Distribution System (PDS) to<br />
meet their basic food needs. A lack of documentation is a key obstacle to obtaining the food<br />
ration. In principle, IDPs can transfer their food ration cards to their place of relocation.<br />
However, in practice this has not taken place in many areas for security reasons or<br />
political/demographic concerns. 807 Persons not able to register with the authorities in their<br />
place of displacement (see above restrictions on entry) are not able to transfer their ration<br />
cards, and accordingly do not have access to the commodities under this programme.<br />
In addition, security and sectarianism regularly hinder access, transportation and<br />
distribution of the PDS, resulting in delays in delivery and distribution and shortfalls in<br />
both the quality and quantity of items in the basket. Many food items do not reach either the<br />
main or local warehouses. Food agents and drivers can fail to gain access to warehouses<br />
and/or the recipient communities, and discrimination in the service delivery of the PDS is<br />
also an issue in mixed areas.<br />
ii. Access to Shelter<br />
Housing is an urgent priority for the majority of IDPs in all governorates. Although many<br />
are living with host families (relatives or friends), inadequate infrastructure-related<br />
services, including access to sanitation, potable water and electricity, pose additional health<br />
risks to many IDPs, who are also faced with the additional crisis of overcrowding. This is<br />
particularly true in Central and Southern Iraq. The inability of many IDPs to contribute to<br />
household expenses increases this problem. A significant number of IDP families are also<br />
living in public buildings in unsanitary, overcrowded conditions with limited access to<br />
electricity. A smaller number are living in collective towns and several hundreds in tented<br />
camps. 808<br />
Whilst significant numbers of IDPs have been able to rent housing in recent months, lack of<br />
employment opportunities and depleting financial resources make it difficult for these<br />
families to continue rental payments. Some IDPs residing in public buildings live with the<br />
threat of eviction.<br />
807 IDPs are supposed to return to their place of origin in order to file a request to transfer the food ration<br />
cards. This also involves a financial burden. Given that the food ration cards serve as the basis for voter<br />
registration for Iraqi elections and referenda, they have acquired political significance. As a consequence,<br />
IDPs cannot transfer their food ration cards to the Governorate of Kirkuk, whose demographics are highly<br />
disputed. On the other hand, some towns are reportedly reluctant to allow families to take their ration cards<br />
when they move, as they do not wish to decrease their political weight; see Kristèle Younès, The world’s<br />
fastest growing refugee crisis, Refugees International, March 2007, p. 5, http://www.refugeesinternational.<br />
org/files/9915_file_RI_Iraqreport.pdf.<br />
808 Cluster F, Update 23 May 2007, see above footnote 22.<br />
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