More than half of Iraqis displaced by conflict to other parts of the country have returned to their homes, AFP reported Thursday (December 4th).

At the end of December, more than 3.2 million displaced Iraqis had gone home while 2.6 millions still lived away, the International Organisation for Migration said.

In December, Baghdad declared victory over the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) after a three-year war against the group that caused tens of thousands to flee.

"The retaking of areas by the Iraqi forces is significant, as is the improvement of security," said IOM communications officer Sandra Black.

Nearly one third are reported to have returned to houses that have been significantly or completely damaged, she said.

Around 60% went back to housing that was only moderately damaged.

Other infrastructure has also been affected in the fighting, with residents in some areas reporting no water or power supply.

More than one million Iraqis have returned home to Anbar province, from which Iraqi forces expelled the last ISIS elements late last year.

More than a third of those internally displaced are in the northern province of Ninawa, after tens of thousands fled second city Mosul during the months-long military campaign to retake the city.