More Than 30,000 Displaced People Return to Sinjar as Iraq, UN Advance Reconstruction Efforts

More Than 30,000 Displaced People Return to Sinjar as Iraq, UN Advance Reconstruction Efforts
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More than 30,000 displaced people have returned to Iraq’s Sinjar district and nearby areas of Qahtaniyah and Sinuni, as the Iraqi government and international partners continue efforts to support the voluntary return of displaced communities and rebuild essential infrastructure.

Ali Abbas, spokesperson for Iraq’s Ministry of Migration and Displaced, said that the government, in coordination with the United Nations, has developed an international strategy focused on restoring basic services and improving conditions for returnees. The plan includes rehabilitation of infrastructure in sectors such as water, electricity, healthcare and education.

The initiative comes as many Yazidi families continue efforts to return to their homeland after being displaced during the Islamic State (ISIS) attack on Sinjar in 2014. UN agencies have previously highlighted that damaged homes, limited public services and security concerns remain major challenges affecting sustainable returns.

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Migration, around 19,000 displaced families, most of them Yazidis, remain in 16 displacement camps in Erbil and Duhok. Authorities have emphasized that returns are voluntary and are being carried out alongside plans to close displacement camps through improved living conditions in areas of origin.

The United Nations and international organizations have supported reconstruction projects in Sinjar, including housing rehabilitation, restoration of public services and livelihood programs aimed at helping returnees rebuild their communities.