Factors Affecting Internally Displaced Persons Returning to their Home Cities

Abstract

Diaa K. Abd Ali, Mansor K. Abd-Ali, Wid L. Meseer, Sabreen G. Gazal.

Throughout the world, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes and communities for many reasons. Some are displaced only temporarily and are able to return to their communities when conflicts are resolved or flood waters have receded, but most live many years as refugees or IDPs. The present study is conducted to assess the factors affecting the IDPs returning to their home cities. A descriptive Survey Study is conducted from the period of 1st. Nov., 2018 to 30th., Jan., 2019. The study conducted in Al-Najaf City. 139 IDPs those who selected through a non-probability accidental sample were included in the study. The data were collected through use of an assessment tool constructed by the researcher include three main parts are demographic data, clinical data, and the factors affecting on the returning and they are the economic related factors, security related factors and the psychosocial factors. The results of the study reveal that the economic related factors are the dominant factors make the IDPs undecided yet to return to their home cities. The study recommends that the economic support should be provided to the IDPs to support them to return freely to their home cities. In addition, a special symposiums should be condected to increased the community awareness about how to support the decision of the IDPs in returning freely to their home cities. Furthermore, the decision makers shouls be take in consideration the economic, security, and psychosocial factors when establishing the plans and solutions.