In the heart of Anbar Governorate, specifically in the Ameriyat Al-Fallujah area, an initiative was launched to address the issues of displacement and community integration by improving the legal environment and community communication for families who belonged to places that were under ISIS control. TILY implemented the initiative in cooperation with crisis response committees. It supports the return of displaced persons, especially from the Bzeibiz camp, and works to enhance social cohesion between the returning families and the host communities in Babil Governorate.

Initiative Objectives

The project's first objective was to improve the legal environment by highlighting the crisis of displaced persons from Jurf Al-Sakhar families who face challenges in obtaining legal support and legal recognition of their status. The campaign focused on conveying the voices of these families to officials and decision-makers to open channels for dialogue and communication.

The second objective was to strengthen the community efforts of the crisis resolution committee in Amiriyat Al-Sumud, along with community leaders and stakeholders in Babil and the Bzeibiz camp, to develop a joint framework that enhances social integration and reduces the fragility of social cohesion between the host community and the families of Jurf Al-Sakhar.

Achieved Activities

The initiative was launched on June 20, 2023, and although it continues until November 2023, many important activities have been implemented. The initiative was initiated by meeting with the crisis response committee and community leaders from the families of Jurf Al-Sakhar, where a list of families in need of legal support was prepared. Then, a full-day discussion session was held between the crisis committee and community leaders from Anbar, Babil, and the Bzeibiz camp to discuss legal issues and opportunities for social integration, with the participation of 30 people. A dialogue session was organized to address negative phenomena and practices that affect social integration, with the participation of 30 people from various segments of society. A dialogue session was held in Baghdad on the importance of addressing negative phenomena that affect social reintegration between the host community and families, with a focus on educating the family and society about the importance of social cohesion. This resulted in the formation of a legal clinic that provides legal advice and documents marriages that take place outside the courts. The initiative aims to issue the necessary legal documents for displaced persons. The initiative concluded with an advocacy session to discuss the challenges facing the issuance of legal documents for displaced families, and the focus was on enhancing cooperation between community leaders and those responsible for legal documents in Babil.

Beneficiaries of the Initiative

Many individuals in the Jurf Al-Sakhar community and the Bzeibiz camp have benefited from this initiative, as legal support was provided to 75 individuals from Jurf Al-Sakhar families who suffer from a lack of legal documents. Also, 25 community leaders from Babil Governorate and 15 community leaders in the Bzeibiz camp benefited from training and awareness activities that focus on social cohesion and crisis resolution.

Local Partners

The joint work with the crisis response committees in Ameriyat Al-Fallujah, in addition to cooperation with NGOs working in the Al-Orouba camp, played a major role in facilitating the implementation of activities and ensuring effective communication between families and host communities.

This initiative is an important step towards enhancing social peace and stability in Iraq, especially in areas that have suffered from the effects of conflict and displacement. By supporting the rights of displaced persons, promoting community integration, and providing legal support to affected communities, the initiative contributes to building the foundations for a more cohesive and cooperative society. Although the project is still ongoing until November 2023, its success in achieving its initial objectives is a strong indicator of the possibility of making long-term positive impacts on the process of social reintegration in Iraq.