From Operation Iraqi Freedom to the Battle of Mosul: Fifteen years of displacement in Iraq

Abstract

The displacement of civilians during a protracted war is a difficult issue that deserves our attention, and Iraq is unfortunately an emblematic example of this phenomenon. Based on the literature produced by humanitarian organizations and academia, this article aims at analyzing what triggers displacement in protracted conflict, highlighting the role of international humanitarian law (IHL) violations. It discusses how Iraq has been struggling with acts of violence, hostilities and IHL violations that have generated displacement and human suffering.

The Economic Cost of Terrorism in Iraq: preliminary assessment

“…On the other hand, only a half million Christian residents have deserted the city of Mosul. There were around 200,000 Yazidis who were forced from their homes, while 90 percent of Tal Afar's Shiite Turkmen community fled the city (Cotter, 2019). According to the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) developed by the International Organization for Migration, the total number of persons forced from their homes in Iraq has reached 6.138 million, of whom 1,186 will continue to be displaced until the end of 2021 (Bardwell & Iqbal, 2021).…”

Seeking news and information through social networking sites: An experience of internally displaced people

“…Based on the theory, the current study examines the effects of SNS on Iraqi IDP and the interactions between media, users, and the social system. For example, in conflict zones and wars, IDP learn how to use different media platforms to satisfy and gratify a variety of desires, such as communicating with families and relatives, feeling secure and safe, and assessing information related to the conflict situation (Cotter, 2019).…”

“…However, the use of an online environment can be different during a stable and unstable situation. For example, the use of advanced technologies, such as mobile devices, among migrants, refugees, and IDP have been noted during the recent refugee crises in North Africa and the Middle East such as Libya, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq (Cotter, 2019;Taha and Sijbrandij, 2021). Although much research has examined the impact of SNSs on situations such as migrants, and refugees, little is known about the use and impact of SNSs on IDP in war and conflict times, especially in Iraq.…”

“…National and non-national media outlets, including different social networking sites (SNSs), have played a significant role in the communication process between IDPs and their families and relatives (Dekker et al, 2018; Taha and Sijbrandij, 2021). From a media technology perspective, mobile Apps became commonly utilized by these outlets, such as BBC, CNN, and Iraqi TVs to reach and communicate with their audience, encouraging users to contribute to their content and information (Deloitte, 2013).…”

“…SNSs have become one of the most important sources of information and news in times of war and conflict,. However, research about the use of SNS as news sources by IDP remains largely unexplored, especially in Iraq (Al-Rawi and Fahmy, 2018; Allison, 2013; Dekker et al, 2018; Gillespie et al, 2016; Madianou and Miller, 2012). Therefore, the current study is an attempt to examine the impressions of Iraqi IDP and the extent of their experience in using SNSs to obtain news and information, and how such platforms have contributed to increasing their news and information awareness and trustworthiness regarding their situation in camps.…”