In a significant development, nearly 170 displaced Yazidis have voluntarily returned to their homes in Sinjar, Iraq, from the Sharya camp in Dohuk, Kurdistan Region. Sinjar had been under the control of the ISIS terrorist organization since 2014, but was liberated in 2019.

Iraq's Migration Minister, Ivan Faiq, stated that the return was facilitated through coordination with security forces, local governments, and joint operations leadership. Upon their arrival in their original areas, the returnees will receive relief aid. The ministry plans for more displaced individuals to voluntarily return from Dohuk camps to Sinjar in the coming days.

However, the Ministry of Migration spokesperson, Ali Abbas Jahangir, highlighted that there are still around 35,500 families who have not yet returned, residing in 26 displacement camps in Dohuk. Efforts have been made to assist those wishing to return to their areas, including the closure of 148 camps.

The ministry aims to declare central and southern governorates free of displacement in the coming months, as some previously displaced families have settled there.

Despite progress, challenges persist. The reconstruction of crucial infrastructure in Sinjar remains incomplete, which has deterred many families from returning. In June, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that a political dispute has hindered reconstruction efforts. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani allocated $34.2 million for reconstruction in April 2023, but HRW noted that other previously allocated funds have yet to be utilized due to political disagreements between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Yazidi activist, Nadia Murad, emphasized that politicians and warlords are impeding the return of stability to Sinjar. She called on the Iraqi government to compensate survivors and ensure the safe return of displaced individuals from camps to their respective areas. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is providing limited assistance, primarily covering transportation costs, estimated at $1,240 per returning family.

The return process, initiated approximately two years ago, has seen only 290 families returning to Sinjar thus far. The slow progress indicates the need for continued efforts to support the displaced Yazidi community in reclaiming their homeland.