20 May 2015, 04:26 pm Print
In a press release from Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Chaloka Beyani, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, called on the international community not to turn its back on the situation in light of a significant shortfall in humanitarian funding.
“Despite some positive steps by the Government, its approach to the displacement crisis has been largely ad hoc to-date,” Beyani said after his first official visit to Iraq from 9 to 15 May.
“Disturbing ongoing developments, including the fall of Ramadi to ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria], and possible Government offensives to regain lost cities including Mosul, will certainly result in massive new displacement,” he added.
“Despite the challenges in the short, medium and long-term, it is imperative that the international community recognizes its responsibilities and remains a consistent and reliable humanitarian partner,” the UN expert stressed.
“IDPs from all ethnic and religious communities are surviving in precarious conditions, often under the threat of violence and further displacement and with inadequate shelter, healthcare, food and water,” he stated.
“Access to humanitarian assistance for many IDPs is poor and must improve. This means ensuring access to humanitarian actors,” Beyani said.
The expert visited IDPs living in cramped, substandard conditions in collective shelters and unfinished buildings. He noted that a one-off cash payment to families of $700 dollars is insufficient even to cover basic needs including shelter and food.
On another note, at least 100 families had to return from Baghdad to Ramadi where their homes had been damaged when ISIS still controlled much of the city.
“While legitimate security concerns exist, including that ISIS may infiltrate IDP communities, the overwhelming majority of IDPs are innocent victims of the conflict and must be treated as such on protection and humanitarian grounds,” the Special Rapporteur concluded.
Chaloka Beyani, professor of international law at the London School of Economics, was appointed Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons by the Human Rights Council in September 2010.
Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, the largest body of independent experts in the UN human rights system. They work on a voluntary basis, are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work.
Photo: UNAMI