URUKNET / UWIRE

DIYALA, Iraq (UWIRE) – "The militias are not allowing us to return to our homes," said Karima Abas Kuydayer. She is one of an estimated 4.2 million Iraqis displaced around the world. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, this figure includes 2.4 million persons displaced inside Iraq. The center tracks conflict-induced internal displacement worldwide.

During the last 24 months, sectarian and generalized violence have replaced military operations as the primary causes of recent population displacement within postwar Iraq.

Two years ago, sectarian violence forced Karima and her family to flee from their home in Abu Sayda located in the Governorate of Diyala. The largely rural province of Diyala extends from the northeast edge of Baghdad to the Iranian border. More than 250,000 Iraqis have been displaced inside of Diyala, reported an unnamed U.S. State Department source.

Displaced for now

For some of the displaced, life has become an ongoing search for clean water, food, shelter and medical aid. This search has led Karima and 100 other displaced Iraqi families to a humanitarian aid operation at Combat Outpost Mukhisa. The Iraqi Army operates this rugged outpost. Flour, rice, water, cooking oil and a pair of baby shoes are given to Karima by Coalition Forces. Displaced people are often unable to register with the Public Distribution System because food cards are assigned to a specific location. For years, people throughout the country have utilized the system to supplement their diets.

"There are seventeen people in my family," Karima said, as she loaded supplies onto a wooden cart. "This bag of flour will last about a week." Fear of the militias operating in Abu Sayda will keep Karima displaced for now.

A decline in overall violence throughout Iraq has encouraged a small number of families to return home. For others, the reason to return is simply financial. Displaced families often exhaust their financial resources while living with relatives in Iraq or abroad.

Diyala’s religious population is primarily Sunni Muslim, yet the Iraqi Staff Maj. Gen. Ghanem Abass Ibraham al Qureshy, Diyala's provincial Director of Police and the current Governor Raad Rasheed Hameed Al-Mula Jowad Al-Tamimi are Shiite. During a recent interview at the Governance Center in Baqubah, the provincial Governor of Diyala commented on the resettlement of displaced Iraqis.

"Along with the return of displaced families we are seeing the return of something that we thought was dead, we see hope," said Gov. Raad, while seated inside of a heavily guarded compound.

Nowhere to go

Hope brought Hashem Mohammed Khalaf and his family back to their damaged home on a narrow street in the town of al-Abarrah last month. Upon his return, that hope was quickly replaced by fear. Bullets fired from a rifle struck their home.

In January of 2007, Hashem had fled to the city of Baqubah after Shiite militias threatened his safety. Hashem is a Sunni. He now believes the Iraqi police stationed in al-Abarrah are in collusion with the same Shiite militias. Seated near a wall scorched by arson damage, Hashem discussed resettlement and the sectarian conflict that exists outside his front door.

"We now live inside of our home like prisoners," Hashem said. "We need to remove all the criminals from the Iraqi police. We need all sections of our society equally represented in a national police force. We have nowhere to go."

Sunni families face different challenges

U.S. Army Cpt. Tiffany Bilderback understands that creating an Iraqi police force that operates above ethnic and religious lines will take time. As the S-9 Officer assigned to Fires Squadron, 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment of the U.S. Army, she is responsible for squadron level targets related to economics, essential services, and governorates in Diyala. She recently discussed the resettlement in al-Abarrah and sectarian loyalties present among the ranks of the Iraqi police.

"Many IDPs in al-Abarrah (Internally Displaced Persons) are returning to homes that are empty and often damaged," said Cpt. Bilderback, while at Forward Operating Base War Horse in Diyala. "Not all families have returned to situations that make them feel unsafe. Many of the Shia families are resettling and are not reporting concerns about security. We are aware that Sunni families face different challenges.

"The process used to hire Iraqi police was not fair. After many of the Sunni families were displaced, only Shiite applicants were available for hire. There are no positions currently available for new police applicants. In order to introduce Sunni police officers into the security force, some Shiite officers will have to be removed. This will not be an easy process."

Collateral damage

Cpt. Bilderback went on to discuss the potential impact that current Iraqi military operations in Diyala could have on the displacement crisis. On July 29, the U.S. military in northern Iraq confirmed that a major offensive against Al-Qaeda in Iraq had begun in Diyala. This offensive, named "Omens of Prosperity" would be the latest in a series of Iraqi Security Force operations focused on creating sustainable security in the regions around the capital of Baghdad.

"If the ISF remains professional, the military offensive in Diyala will benefit the IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) in the province. If their actions are unprofessional, it will have a negative impact on those families. It will set them further back."

Cpt. Bilderback is not the only one hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. At a recent meeting with Deputy Governor Auf Rahim, Iraqi Army Colonel Najim Muhammed Hamza, Director of Civilian and Military Operations in Diyala explained his plans to assist civilians who might be injured during combat operations.

"In any operation there is collateral damage," said Col. Najim "There are always injuries among the civilians. These wounded civilians will need blood. We have made arrangements with the Health Ministry to prepare for civilian injuries. There are four thousand units of blood available for the operations in Diyala."

Photo Captions: News of a humanitarian aid operation brought Karima Abas Kudayer to Combat Outpost Mukhisa, Diyala province, Iraq 2008 (top of post). Iraqi Army soldiers search displaced Iraqi families for weapons during a humanitarian aid operation outside of Combat Outpost Mukhisa, Diyala province, Iraq 2008 (second photograph). Karima Abas Kudayer trails behind a cart loaded with food and water at Combat Outpost Mukhisa, Diyala province, Iraq 2008 (third photograph). Hashem Mohammed Khalaf sits inside a fire-scarred room in al-Abarrah, Diyala province, Iraq, 2008 (fourth photograph). A Shia family unloads a truck as they return to their home in al-Abarrah, Diyala province, Iraq, 2008 (fifth photograph). U.S. Army Captain Tiffany Bilderback attends a meeting in the town of Shaikhe, Diyala province, Iraq 2008 (sixth photograph). Iraqi soldiers take the lead during a joint patrol with Coalition Forces in Diyala province, Iraq 2008 (bottom of post).

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© 2008 UWIRE

SOURCE:
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=46072
http://uwire.typepad.com/iraqinfocus/2008/07/test-1-1.html

URL: http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/cgi-bin/blogs/voices.php/2008/07/30/humanitarian_crisis_displaced_in_diyala