The following sources of information about conditions in Iraq may prove helpful for refugees and asylum seekers considering return and to decision makers on return policies and programmes and those seeking to influence them.
Further links to some key policy papers on conditions in and return to Iraq can be found on the Refugee Council's website in the policy section.
| Advice Persons granted asylum or other forms of international protection in the UK are advised to seek legal advice prior to travelling or returning to a country of origin. Persons seeking asylum in the UK are strongly advised to seek legal advice prior to making an application to return to IOM or to the UKBA. An application for voluntary return may jeopardise an outstanding asylum application. |
Government Organisations
The UK Department for International Development’s (DfID) Iraq page provides information about the challenges to development facing Iraq and gives further details about the department’s strategy for the country.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Iraq Country Profile gives an overview of the country as well as information on recent developments, and links to other sites of interest.
The UK Home Office’s Country of Origin Information Service (COI Service) exists to provide accurate, objective, sourced and up-to-date information on asylum seekers' countries of origin, for use by UK Border Agency officials involved in the asylum determination process. Its country of origin report for Iraq can be found here. The department has also issued a report on the Kurdish Regional Government area of Iraq and a Bulletin on Iraq's Government of National Unity.
The website of the Iraqi Government.
The Kurdish Regional Government has its own website.
The US Overseas Security Advisory Council is a Federal Advisory Committee with a U.S. Government Charter monitors and reports on regional security for American businesses operating overseas. Its Iraq page can be accessed here.
The US State Department travel advice for Iraq can be found here.
Inter-Governmental Organisations
The International Organization for Migration’s Iraq website provides information on its programme activities within the country, including migration management and capacity building.
The Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) is part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Its principal role is to provide news and analysis about sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia for the humanitarian community. It runs a news service which is editorially independent of OCHA which includes pages on Iraq.
ReliefWeb is an on-line gateway to information (documents and maps) on humanitarian emergencies and disasters, designed to assist the international humanitarian community in effective delivery of emergency assistance. ReliefWeb is administered by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). ReliefWeb’s Iraq page contains information from humanitarian agencies working in the region, including assessments of conditions in the country.
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has a UN mandate to provide advice and support for the electoral process; promote national dialogue and consensus building; advise the Government of Iraq in the development of effective civil and social services; contribute to the co-ordination and delivery of reconstruction, development, and humanitarian assistance; promote the protection of human rights, national reconciliation, and judicial and legal reform in order to strengthen the rule of law; and advise and assist the Government of Iraq on initial planning for the eventual conduct of a comprehensive census.
The UN Development Programme’s Iraq website gives information about its reconstruction activities in the country.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Iraq pages. UNHCR provides up-to-date news, information, research and statistics on the country, with particular emphasis on returnee issues. UNHCR has also published a Country Briefing Folder on Iraq which contains references to key UNHCR sources and other documents of interest.
The United Nations News Centre for Iraq collates information and news about the country from various UN agencies and bodies active in the country.
The World Bank’s Iraq pages provide information about its programmes and projects in Iraq, as well as about the country’s economic situation.
The World Health Organization’s Iraq country pages provides information on health indicators, prevalent diseases and healthcare provision in the country.
News Organisations
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)’s news page for Iraq covers events in the country.
The BBC World Service provides news pages translated into Arabic.
Al Jazeera’s online news site can be accessed in English and in Arabic.
NewsNowhas a dedicated Iraq page that monitors breaking news stories about the country from sources around the world.
Reuters AlertNet is a humanitarian news network that aims to keep relief professionals and the wider public up-to-date on humanitarian crises around the globe. Its Iraq page can be accessed here.
Non-Governmental Organisations
Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. Amnesty International’s collected information on Iraq can be accessed from its library pages.
The Brookings Institution Iraq Index is a statistical compilation of economic, public opinion, and security data that is updated every two weeks.
The European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net) collects country resources focusing on the needs of asylum lawyers, counsels and persons deciding claims for asylum and other forms of international protection.
Human Rights Watch is a US based NGO which seeks to protect human rights, prevent discrimination, uphold political freedom, protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. Human Rights Watch’s Iraq page contains analyses of the human rights situation in the country.
The Institute for War and Peace Reporting is an international network for media development which supports training and capacity building programmes for local journalism in more than two dozen countries. The Institute for War and Peace Reporting’s Iraq pages carry reports from Iraq.
The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) was established by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and monitors conflict-induced internal displacement world-wide. Information on internal displacement in and returns to Iraq can be found on its pages.
The International Crisis Group is an NGO that produces analytical reports on significant situations of conflict or potential conflict around the world and makes recommendations which aim to prevent and resolve deadly conflict and which are targeted at key international decision-makers. Its Iraq pages contain its briefings and reports about security and other developments in the country.
Go to our voluntary returns - advice section for further information about assisted and voluntary return programmes and contacting family members abroad.
Disclaimer: the Refugee Council is not responsible for the content of any external websites and does not endorse any view expressed in them. These links are offered as sources of background information only.
