Supporting vulnerable returnees and out camp IDPs by providing comprehensive general protection wellbeing services in Iraq An assessment, KIIs and secondary data collection (HNO report 2022 & DTM (March 2022)), is showing that the activity is targeting areas where the numbers of IDPs and returnees remain high. Ramadi (Anbar): 601,734 returnees, 6,768 IDPs. Ba’aj (Nineveh): 54,072 returnees, 7,530 IDPs. Tikrit, Tuz & Khurmatu (Saladin): 58,332 returnees; 19,632 IDPs. Ba’quba (Diyala): 19,950 IDPs. Besides, the following main results were found:
Profile of population at risk: In all areas investigated population is at risk; most vulnerable categories in the community are: women (especially, female headed households), children (especially orphans), ISIS survivors, poor people, widows and disabled people. Also a lot of people are displaced and people have mental problems / traumas; especially elderly. 
Access to safety and freedom of movement: In general the population of the areas have freedom of movement, but situations per area differ which have influence on population’s feeling of safety. Population in Ba’aj feels less safe due to the presence of armed groups (especially PKK / YBS, Asayish, Ezidxane, army and police), potential risk of Turkish airstrikes and the fear that ISIS returns. Especially women and children feel unsafe. There are no safe spaces for women and children. In the areas there are cases of forced evictions. 
Protection of women: Overall women are respected by the community, but women feel sometimes less respected due to less opportunities they have compared to men. Besides, women face the following major risks / type of violence: domestic family issues, early marriage and denial of resources (due to lack of documentation). Women face also harassment and rape takes also place. Female headed returnees, women who married with ISIS men, widows and divorcees are most at risk in terms of protection. 
Protection of children: In general children are mainly protected by family, community members and at school. A lot of children don’t go to school due to lack of schools and lack of financial means. These children are at high risk as they have not really opportunities for recreation. There are no recreation areas such as kindergartens and parks. Children play mainly on the streets and / or at home; playing in / around destroyed houses is dangerous. Children who don’t go to school (and displaced children) suffer from exploitation in beggary, and in some cases they become addicted to drugs. In some areas, children join armed forces (such as ISIS). Armed groups organize activities to attract youth or they kidnap / by force take youth joining them. In some cases also families force youth to join the armed groups or youth voluntarily join, to support the family. 
Legal protection: A lot of people don’t have the needed civil and other legal documents, especially returnees. People face difficulties getting new legal documents due to lack of finance and / or ability to travel to the offices. Consequences of not having the right legal documents are having problems at checkpoints / accessing other districts / governorates and access to public services such as health and education. In some areas quite some children and other people are detained or missing by ISIS and PKK. For parents / relatives are not able to get support from lawyers due to it is not known where the missing people are.

Further results on protection of returnees and physical safety, shelter & WASH can be found in the assessment report developed.

In the areas there are not a lot of organisations and institutions supporting the community on protection issues. Therefore it is expected that this consortium – Cordaid, Yazda and AAF – will make some significant positive changes in protection for the different affected population implementing different protection activities: Protection monitoring at HH level; Case management; Emergency cash for protection; Referrals to specialized services; Legal assistance; Psychosocial support and Community-based group activities. Overall objective: The provision of comprehensive protection services in predominantly rural communities of Ninewa, Anbar, Diyala and Salah Al-Din in order to ensure these vulnerable returnees and out-of-camp IDPs have access to specialized protection services and community-based interventions to address risks to their physical safety, well-being and social integration. This project will achieve the overall objective through a community-based and inclusive approach aimed at empowering community members and targeting vulnerable people while more broadly educating the community on protection mechanisms and response mechanisms. 

Outcome 1: Vulnerable out-of-camp IDPs and returnees have access to specialized protection services and community-based interventions that prevent protection risks and mitigate/respond to general protection needs in Ramadi, Baquba, Tooz Khurmatu, and Baaj. 

Outcome 2: Capacity building for humanitarian actors and local authorities working in the targeted locations. IDPs, returnees and host-community, PWD