[NYTr] Displaced Iraqis Establishing Own Camps

[nytr at olm.blythe-systems.com]

IRIN via Iraq Slogger - Jul 23, 2007
http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/3693


Displaced Iraqis Establishing Own Camps

With Official IDP Camps Overflowing, Families Rely on Each Other

IRIN

Babil  - Thousands of Iraqis have been setting up their own improvised
displacement camps after fleeing violence in their home areas and being
turned away from already overcrowded formal camps.

"We didn't have a choice," said Muhammad Bilal, 43, who lives in a
makeshift camp on the outskirts of Al Hillah, the capital of Babil
province in central Iraq.

"We tried to get support in three camps near the capital, but we were
not allowed in by locals who had already settled there. And the local
NGO looking after the families said they couldn't offer the same
assistance to us."

After numerous futile attempts to find a safe place for his family to
stay, Bilal and dozens of other men in the same situation decided to
set up their own camp.

"We decided to sell all our goods, cars and some people who have
relatives outside Iraq contributed money which helped us to buy some
tents and store some food," Bilal said.

Their initiative has been repeated across Babil province, in Ninawa
province in the north and Diyalah province in the east.

NGOs welcome initiative

Local non-governmental groups (NGOs) have welcomed the initiative but
say they do not have the funds to support this increasing number of
displaced families.

"We are unable to offer full assistance to those hundreds of Iraqis
settling in their own camps but we hope we can soon do that. We have
called upon international NGOs to make more donations which will allow
more people to leave the dangerous areas they are staying in and make
their own private camps in safer locations," said Saluwa Abdel-Aziz, a
member of the disaster and displacement department for Iraqi Voices of
Freedom, a Mosul-based NGO.

The Iraqi Aid Association (IAA) was upbeat about the informal camps but
concerned about how the displaced people would survive after their own
resources had run out.

"We are really happy with the initiative from those families," Fatah
Ahmed, spokesman for IAA, said. "There are about 2,800 Iraqis living in
private displacement camps, especially near Babil and Mosul . Today
they are able to support themselves but tomorrow it could become
another reality."

Government concerned

Iraq's Ministry of Displacement and Migration expressed its concern over
individuals setting up informal displacement camps, saying that such
initiatives could bring more violence to safer areas in Iraq.

Bilal said he was worried that militants or insurgents would find out
about their settlement and target people living there.

"There isn't safety in Iraq and even living as a displaced person some
extremists might come after us. And if it happens, there isn't anything
we can do to save our lives anymore," Bilal said.

Women and children living in informal camps said their lives had
improved significantly since moving to a camp.

"Before, we couldn't even stand in the doorway of our house, scared
that a bullet would come our way. Our children were crying every day
and never sleeping," said Um Khudar, 34, a mother of three living in a
camp housing up to 370 people on the outskirts of Al Hillah.

"The children are sleeping now, we can sit outside our tents and speak
with other people and until now we have food and water donated by some
local NGOs. We don't know what will happen tomorrow, what our destiny
is, but at least on some days we can live in a peaceful environment,"
she said.