The governorate of Duhok is located in the north of Iraq, with a population of approximately 1.3 million according to figures from 2013. Large numbers of Iraqis predominantly from Ninewa Governorate, but also from Anbar and other parts of central and northern Iraq have been displaced to Duhok as a result of ongoing hostilities in these areas.
Duhok Governorate is home to the second largest concentration of post June – November 2014 IDPs in the three Northern Governorates. The majority lives in Akre District and Duhok Centre, with others in the Districts of Zakho, Shekhan, Sumel and Amedi. The majority of IDPs are Kurds, followed by ethnic-based Christians (Assyrians, Chaldeans and Syrians, Arabs and others. About 20% of all new IDPs in the Governorate of Dahuk are children and according to UNFPA records more than 40 babies are being born to internally displaced families every day in Duhok governorate within Kurdistan Region, official statistics show. According to Duhok Health Directorate figures, approximately 2700 newborns to internally displaced families were registered in two months as of second half term of 2014.
Since 2014 June, in Northern Iraq the most immediate need in the region is to build the IDP camps to accommodate necessary living conditions to over 600.000 IDPs taking refuge in Zakho and Duhok.
More than 40.000 IDPs only have been settled into 79 schools in Zakho downtown. It is not precise when they will be removed from those schools. Kurdish Regional Administration postponed 2014-2015 school year from September to October. After the removal of IDPs from the schools, the reopening will be doable upon the completion of rehabilitation and cleaning works.
In this regard after the needs assessment Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthife e.V. and IBC jointly developed a school rehabilitation program funded by Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthife e.V. through the German Government, Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Within the project in overall total of 15.000 students and 600 teachers are aimed directly benefit from the implementation of the project; interrupted education system in the region to be provided greater benefits from the implementation of the program.
Considering education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights within the period of 2014 last quarter and 2015 second half physical immediate repairs and rehabilitations of the 25 schools are targeted to be improved to be completely ready for the 2015 – 2016 academic year.
