Iraqi Minister of Migration and Displacement Jassim Mohammed al-Jaf on Friday (December 15th) announced that 45% of displaced Iraqis have returned to their home areas.
“The ministry is proceeding with the programme to return all displaced people to their cities, in co-operation with the government and international and UN organisations,” al-Jaf said.
Returning displaced populations to their home areas and helping them settle is a key goal, he said, speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of an event to celebrate the Iraqi victory against the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS).
Of a total of five million displaced Iraqis, "45% or more" have returned home, he said, adding that operations are ongoing to return people to areas that have been cleared of explosive remnants of war.
“Next year will be the year of return of displaced people,” al-Jaf said, noting that the government's intention to hold elections on time “will only be realised with the speedy return of displaced people to their homes".
