The UN Regional Response Plan serves as a strategic framework to guide all relevant actors in a coordinated response on behalf of Iraqi refugees in 2010, and highlights many of the complimentary partnerships already established among agencies providing assistance to those most in need.

Among others, the plan notes the close collaboration between ICMC, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on resettlement departures and migration/asylum and counter trafficking issues. In 2009 alone, ICMC directly supported 29% of all Iraqi refugees accepted for resettlement to the United States, by preparing security clearances, and by providing cultural orientation classes, medical examinations and follow-up.

Nonetheless, the Response Plan underscores the fact that “many Iraqis continue to experience acute vulnerability…resettlement or imminent return are realistic options for only a fraction of the population; therefore the majority of refugees face the daily challenges of preserving temporary residency, accessing health and education, paying the rent and feeding their families.”

For these especially vulnerable individuals, ICMC has been working with local partners to provide humanitarian assistance specifically targeted to the needs of single-headed households, large families with insufficient economic resources, elderly persons and individuals with disabilities or psychological trauma.

ICMC also provides out-of-school Iraqi children and youth with opportunities to improve their future prospects though education and training. To date, students and teachers have benefitted from non-formal, ‘summer preparedness’, remedial and catch-up activities for displaced Iraqi and vulnerable local youth in host countries, as well as non-formal teacher training for volunteer Iraqi teachers.

The full 2010 UN Regional Response Plan for Iraqi Refugees can be found below, or by visiting: www.reliefweb.int<.

For more information about ICMC’s work with displaced vulnerable Iraqis, please see: www.icmc.net<.

2010 UN Regional Response Plan for Iraqi Refugees (1.48 MB)