Displaced Iraqis return and rebuild their lives, support & reconstruction needed: UN agency

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New York, Feb 21 (Canadian-Media): According to the reports of International Organization for Migration (IOM), Iraqi civilians have started to make their way back home after the terrorist group has been uprooted from its bastions in the country, the United Nations (UN) had reported.  

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About six million Iraqis were displaced due to ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) but as of Jan 31, reportedly more than 3.3 million Iraqis have returned to their areas of origin.

“As Iraq enters the recovery phase after three years of conflict, we should remember that real reconstruction of the country will not only be based on rebuilding infrastructure,” Gerard Waite,  head of the IOM operations in the country was reported to state on Tuesday.

“Provision of specialized support to all who survived the conflict is also needed, alongside reconstruction of infrastructure.”

At the recent Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq, the UN system launched a two-year Recovery and Resilience Program -- with its aim to fast-track the social dimensions reconstruction -- with asistance from  IOM.

The UN migration agency is also working on assistance efforts in areas of return, specific programmes include mobile community information centres, light infrastructure projects, housing rehabilitation, strengthening health facilities, relief kit distribution and livelihood support.

About half (51 percent) of  2.5 million Iraqis yet to return to their origins, are reportedly living in private settings (with families or friends)  and about a quarter (26 percent) in camps.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)​