Iraqis have known little of peace or prosperity for forty years; with each generation facing its own unique crisis. Today the country remains in a deeply fragile situation following the end of hostilities with ISIL two years ago; a conflict which continues to affect the physical and mental well-being, living standards, and capacity for resilience and recovery of millions of Iraqis. Social, ethnic and sectarian tensions persist on multiple fronts.
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis remain uprooted and unable to return home, the main reasons being destroyed shelters and lack of economic opportunities. Serious protection concerns are raised regarding returns of the women and children with perceived affiliations to ISIL and other groups. The humanitarian community in Iraq continues to support voluntary, dignified, informed and sustainable returns. The majority of areas of return continue to experience a wide range of severe access and security constraints, lack of basic infrastructure and basic services, as well as lack of livelihood opportunities that could allow returnees to integrate and achieve durable solutions to displacement.
Within the current context of IDP camp closures, ACTED is working towards the promotion of voluntary returns leveraging on its presence, as a camp management agency, in Salamiyah camp, one of the biggest remaining camps in Ninewa governorate, as well as its presence in the areas of return. In camp, ACTED provides CCCM and WASH services, as well as information management and awareness raising on the services available in the areas of origin of the IDPs. In parallel, ACTED has extensive programming in the areas of return to facilitate reintegration, through rehabilitation of shelters, WASH and market infrastructure, as well as provision of livelihoods opportunities. To address the issue of secondary displacement, following the formal camps closure, ACTED has started CCCM activities through mobile teams that intervene in informal settlements within Ninewa governorate.
Moreover, ACTED has long-standing programming to support Syrian refugees in Dohuk governorate, through child protection interventions, as well as provision of basic WASH services for refugees at in camp and out of camp locations.
In the past years, ACTED has been working towards green agriculture practices through the construction and rehabilitation of relevant infrastructure and the provision of related training for farmers. More specifically, in 2019, ACTED built the first pilot-scale Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP), in Dohuk governorate, using waste stabilization ponds to effectively remove the harmful content of sludge to a level at which the final treated product can be used for agricultural purposes (as compost). One of the main project objectives was to improve access to quality agricultural inputs by providing a safe, efficient and high-quality compost for the local farming community in the region. Moreover, ACTED is currently implementing a project in Fallujah district, Anbar governorate, including rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure and trainings for farmers on green agricultural practices through the Farmer Field School approach.