Displaced People in the Arabic-speaking Iraqi and International Media Which: Narrow Angle Coverage
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Displaced People in the Arabic-speaking Iraqi and International Media Which: Narrow Angle Coverage
The Iraqi Media House's eighteenth monitoring report pointed out the Arabic-speaking Iraqi and International media's weak coverage of the key issues that are related to the displaced people, such as health, education and essential services, especially drinking water and sanitation despite the fact that there is more than three million displaced people within Iraq.
It also found that field coverage of those issues was rare as most media outlets only reported official declarations and politicians’ statements.
The media gave priority to the “security concern” regarding the possibility of terrorist infiltration at the expense of the displaced people’s voices and their “tragic” conditions.
Therefore, it called for increasing the media focus on this extremely important humanitarian and social topic, concentrating on the reconstruction efforts of the liberated areas and ensuring peaceful coexistence between its different components, and mobilizing international support of this cause.
First: Media coverage of essential issues of emigrants
1. Education
Iraqi media dealt superficially with the issue of displaced people education leaving aside status of schools and education necessities.
Examples New morning newspaper published on 13/5/2016 a report entitled "human right commission launches an initiative for restoration of emigrant students to school again".
The report pointed at human right commission launching the initiative under the title (your right to learn) for restoring emigrant students to schools, while ignoring emigrants' opinion or organizations concerned about this issue.
"Khulasa" website published on 31/1/2016 a report entitled "children without schools" emigrants suffering revival in Iraq. Containing figures released by Iraqi ministry of education and UNISCO, along with the absence of students' voices or their parents or educational staff.
Shafak news agency published on 20/12/2015 news entitled "higher education excluding displaced people's students from paying their fees in internal accommodation departments" with a statement released by the ministry, with not mentioning how much fees were they pay in the past. Few media dealt deeply with the issue of emigrant children completing their education, one of which was a comprehensive report published by Mada newspaper, entitled "a suffering brings along new concern... emigrant students. ... second year education is the same as the preceding."
The report started with a story of an emigrant student who cannot afford the cost defined by ministry of education for entering the third semester exam, then came along the most important problems that face students in completing their education.
2. Health
Like education, Iraqi media ignored coverage of essential health care which should be available for displaced people with the absence of medical staff or medical capacities in the camps.
Examples Iraqi press website published on 22/5/2015 a news item entitled "the dedication of Yarmok, Abu Greib and Mahmodyah hospitals to receive emergency cases of refugees".
Quoted the assistant of general health manager in the ministry of health that, providing emergency buses on roads of emigrants from Alanbar to provide them with first aid and also for driving patients to hospitals of Abu Greib, Yarmok and al Mahmodyah. News did not mention anything about displaced people opinion or whether that action were sufficient and meet their medical needs.
*it was the same also with news published by Istiqama newspaper entitled "Dyala health care install three field hospitals to treat Mosul's displaced people".
*Sky press also published news entitled "Duhok marks 23 cholera most are from displaced people " Reason behind epidemic spread among refugees was not mentioned, only mentioning that most cases were living in displaced people camps. Some media tried at converting the issue into a political or national or ethnic conflict,3ation parliamentary committee: Shaqlawa hospitals hanging signs with emigrants, no entry written upon".
It also mentioned a statement said by migration parliamentary committee member, Ahmad al-Salmani, related to a hospital in Shaqlawa city in Irbil banning displaced people from entering to receive treatment.
*Future newspaper published in news an item entitled " human organization: Kurdistan deals badly with emigrants" also mentioned the poor medical care given to emigrants coming to Kurdistan.
*"Free ideas" website published on 30/7/2015 a news item entitled "Kurds and mediaries from west areas are selling displaced people's kidneys in Kurdistan".
The website quoted a "cognizant" source that "a group of people from Kurdistan and mediaries from west areas are selling displaced people's kidneys in Kurdistan to hospitals and for those who intend to kidney plant in exchange for money.
Some media only published information released by authorities and concerned organizations.
*Zaman newspaper published on 14/6/2016 a news item entitled "health receiving five mobile hospitals from Germany". Mentioning in a release for ministry of health that Germany has presented five mobile hospitals to the ministry to perform medical care to 45.000 person monthly in the provinces of Diyala, Nineveh and Salahaddin, without mentioning the sizes of these hospitals or the preparations they contain.
New morning newspaper published on 25/11/2015 news entitled " Diyala health center on field visits to camps". According to Diyala health center media, launching a medical and precautionary campaign in displaced people center in the provice with medical teams of internal, dermal, children, women, and other specializations as directed by minister of health, Adela Hammoud
3. Housing and travel
Iraqi media focused on many issues such as the entering of Diyala displaced people to Bagdad and Kurdistan, with the condition of having a guarantor. The voice of the displaced people was missing among exchanged statements between politicians, along with almost no field Examples:
*Alsumaria website published on 6/4/ 2016 news concluding that Alanbar security addresses Bagdad service to let stuck families in the control of people pass, in the east oc Bagdad.
The website quoted a statement of a member in Alanbar security province, more than a hundred family from Alanbar are in the hand people of Bagdad with Bagdad security banning them from passing through, showing that these families are emigrants who seeks returning to their freed areas.
*Khandan website published on 10/4/2015 a declaration of a security member of Bagdad province stressing the condition of having a guarantor to enter Bagdad, under the title " Bagdad security : keeping guarantor condition for displaced people entry aims at securing the capital's safety ".
*Al sharqiah news published brief news in May 1st, 2015 including "more than 300 displaced families from Ramadi, Alanbar center are still stuck in a temporary camp in Al khalediah waiting for entering Bagdad or being provided with essentials with the beginning of Summer".
Without any further details.
*In the next day, 2nd of May, Mada press, in its detailed description of displaced people crisis, introduced a declaration of displaced people community in Iraqi parliament that stated " besieged families from Alanbar on al Habbanie and Al khalediah are suffering human crisis manifesting in spread of epidemics and diseases among women, children, and elderly causing deaths after cessation of medical care and aids" at the time that parliamentary emigration and displaced people committee said that "5 thousand displaced families had to return home because of being threatened, and from security intense procedures".
Al Ghad press published on 16/5/2016 an article entitled " a report of a human organization unveils displaced people abuse in Kurdistan ".
Came across what a human organization, concerned with displaced families, unveiled in Kurdistan. And the 'tragic' situation that emigrants are facing there, assuring that they are suffering the ignorance of health, service and livelihood.. *Almustaqbal newspaper published on 23/6/2014 a report entitled " Nineveh's minorities are fleeing from ISIS.
And the region is closing the door in their face. Came across the difficulties that faced displaced people for entering Kurdistan cities while authorities there demanding that no entering without having a guarantor.
Most media ignored presenting livelihood of displaced people and the description of their housing or daily details also were missing, but some media reported parts of displaced people life and suffering, some of them were: Alsabah Aljadid newspaper published on October 22th in 2014 a report describing the life of the displaced people in Irbil under the title "displaced people left their home and dreams to find themselves in a tent under the open sky".
Containing a description of displaced people status, what aid they receive and their life condition. al-Aalam newspaper published a report without mentioning publishing date, under the title " children of the displaced people are the most sufferers from camp conditions" describing how are they playing in camps, also about their study, education, psychological condition and development of intellectual potential because they are the wealth of the country, and abandoning them means a great loss of a whole generation or maybe their depravation in the future.
4. Security status
Media focused on consequences of the displaced people on security status and the sneaking "terrorists" between them. Some media linked security decline in Bagdad with the entering of great numbers of Alanbar displaced people. Alsumaria news agency published on 2/5/2015 a statement by deputy prime minister, Bahaa al-Araji, Alanbar displaced people" is plotted for bringing terrorists inside Bagdad " Some media quoted some official and security members who reportedly assured arresting a number of "terrorists" who have sneaked among emigrants who left Alanbar heading to other Iraqi provinces.
The eighth report released by Iraqi Media House is dedicated to Iraqi media coverage of Al anbar displacemsnt, also mentioning the news of arresting five terrorists wearing women's clothes amongst emigrants, which was passed around among activists on social media.
This news was not assured officially, it became a common way in media in next days to quote from unknown sources. Also Iraqi media house has found that all declarations in this type were stated by "politicians" or "deputies" or councilmen, and Ministry of Internal Affairs or Ministry of Defense did not mention any statistics or information in this regard.
The coverage presented a media formula including provocative parlance in the news of catching terrorists hiding amongst displaced people.
News center of Iraqi information network published on 5/5/2015 news entitled "ten terrorists caught were sneaking with booby-trapped cars into Alanbar displaced people Noting that most media presented a single view point concerning displaced people, and related to anxiety of threatening Bagdad, and with the absence of their human suffering.
Some Media also reported inadequate information about numbers of terrorists caught, while Alshafak news agency published on April 18th news about arresting "dozens of terrorists from Alanbar emigrants "
5. Social status
Media coverage ignored psychological condition under emigration and its result on displaced people, yet presented their consequences, without probing into reasons and treatment methodology as well as the voice of psychiatrists were absent from the scene.
Examples: Mada press published on 25/11/2015 news entitled "IPDs committed suicide hanging in the north of Kikuk.
Stating that the reason behind this action in psychological pressure caused by hard life conditions since he is from a big family in number.
AlSharqiah was not different from mada press in presenting the same news. It mentioned that the suicide case was the second in a week, and the sixth between displaced people in camps due to the tragedy they face.
Shafak news published a report on 6/10/2015 about marking down the third suicide case among displaced people in camps in Iraq in one month.
Condoling that reason behind the suicide of a person in his fifties, is the tragic situation of his family in the camp, and the lack of services and medical care, as well as being unable to get to his home in Yathreb which he emigrated from more than a year ago after the control of ISIS on the area.
Adding that arresting his two son in his city Yathreb by security service raised his psychological pressure, according to a secret informer statement.
And that they are imprisoned accused of terrorism despite that they are not involved in any military action.
Secondly: summary of methods of Iraqi media coverage of displaced people issues
1. Iraqi media network The network focused in its coverage on governmental information and close attitudes. Human rights: 2015 is the most difficult on displaced people Fallojah's displaced people congratulate the war of freeing their city Displaced people: our stand with the government is a challenge to terrorism
2. Mada press . Focussed on security dimensions for emigration, and the security-related problems they face. Arrested member of ISIS " an IPDs from anbar" in the east side of al Nasryeh An IPDs killed with his wife in a bombing inside their house after coming back from the north of Samraa Four wanted persons arrested accused of "terrorism" among displaced people coming from Tikrit The agency gave reports upon displaced people status, and some were from field. Displaced people in al-Tagi: we live in a place that is not suitable for domestic animals.
ISIS shells are targeting 300 thousand near al Rammadi and difficulties hindering the return of Diyala's displaced people. Diwanyeh people and displaced children: peace, unity of religions, and defeating ISIS is the most distinguished hope of next year.
3. Ghad press Introduced field materials related to emigrants from many provinces, but lacking details. Displaced people in Wasit are chased by the ghost of being emigrated displaced people in al- diwanyeh complain about rising temperature and absence of care Displaced people in Karbala complain the lack of services. With contention of statements or governmental information.
The return of 250 displaced families back to Alanbar displaced people representative: evacuation of 500 family from Makhmor villages. Alabadi and Bayden negotiating national and international support for displaced people return.
4. Shafak news Published information on life conditions of displaced people. Examples: grants from Alanbar protest in Doukan Deteriorating situation of displaced people in Iraq Survivors fled from south Mosul wars call the region 'Kurdistan' to let them enter Irbil or Kikuk. Urgent news... three children deaths inside the camps in Alsulaimaniyah.
5. Orient newspaper The newspaper focused on the results caused by the bad climate conditions for displaced people, for example, heavy rain and floods crushing into camps
Examples: The newspaper published on 1/11/2015 a report entitled drowning of camps of displaced people in Diyala because of ( huge corruption ) the situation of displaced people in Amiriyah Fallujah and bezebez bridge is (tragic) and aid are not sufficient. It mentioned in this report that the situation of emigrants is very difficult because of their camp being drowned after the heavy rain.
Dozens of displaced tents destroyed because of the heavy rain in Irbil. A local official threatens from a close human disaster... hundreds of anbari families are sleeping on bezebez bridge after being banned from entering Bagdad
6. Adalah newspaper The newspaper in all its coverage on displaced people, contented with information released by government. While the absence of field application in those releases.
Examples: Ministery of transport moves 2500 displaced people from Aldorah camp to new sheltering places.
Streets and avenues opened in Yathreb in Salahaddin province for displaced people return. Distribution of 500 tents to emigrants and representative are calling for emergency supplies for them.
Thirdly: Iraqi displaced people in international Arabic speaking media
1. BBC Arabic :
* A group of T.V field reports were provided from diaplaced people camps in Kurdistan in Iraq. And focused on displaced people daily difficulties in getting essentials like drinking water.
Examples: Iraqi displaced people suffering in Bahraka in Irbil How is Iraqi government dealing with the displaced people crisis in Alanbar? Iraqi displaced people facing difficult livelihood in Ramadan
2. Reuters:
A group of its field reports focused on difficulties in emigrants travel especially in Kurdistan, and social problems facing them as well as the difficulty to find jobs. Examples: Displaced people commission is concerned about freedom of travel for Iraqi displaced people. Kurds of Iraq monitoring borders after emigration pressured the resources of the region Touristic resorts in Kurdistan is the last shelter for Iraqi displaced people.
3. France 24:
Presented reports on displaced people in Middle East in general, and specifically Iraqi, and came across the daily life difficulties.
A report: 40 million displaced people in the world in 2015 due to wars and conflicts. Hundreds of citizens are fleeing from al Fallojah.
Forth: Hint It is worth mentioning that "Iraqi Media House" has made a report about displaced people, entitled : Iraqi media coverage focuses on "the danger" of displaced people...ignoring their human status Can be traced in the following link :
In Arabic
In English
Fifth: Notes
1. Iraqi media covered the displaced people issues very poorly. Most have chosen shallow subjects and did not go deeper in displaced people problems or suffering.
2. "Iraqi Media House "marked the absence of displaced people's voice in most media materials, and if not, it were marginal.
3. Field action was absent in most press materials that has covered displaced people life, and also the description of their life condition and situation was missing.
4. Media focused on political and security-related subjects that did worse to displaced people, creating a general rejecting view of them, like sneaking of terrorists amongst displaced people.
5. The media coverage was not sufficient enough in subjects quality, quantity, or volume specified for meeting the actual size of the incidents. Figures show the emigration of more than 3 million and 200 thousand Iraqi from home in addition to those migrated outside the country.
6. Media failed in meeting adequate information about the numbers of displaced people and the areas witnessed emigration from tension places to safer ones.
7. Media coverage contained missing information on the amount of aids that citizen and governmental organization submitted to emigrants.
8. Some media focused only on government information on displaced people, in the time they should focus on monitoring government efforts themselves and gathering weakness points in order to enhance their service for refugees.
Sixth: Recommendation
1. Increasing the displaced people Iraqi media coverage, and not only on emigration, but also on its reasons and on their future return to home and on amicable life among them.
2. A wider coverage on most important emigrant issues such as services, food, travel freedom and education.
3. Focus on delivering displaced people suffering to create a public view that forces authorities on paying more attention to displaced people and supplying them with necessary aid.
4. Focusing on freed areas' status and destruction rates they had and also on efforts to reconstruction and services supply as a base for displaced people back.
5. Motivating international community for more concern about reconstruction of freed areas in order to hasten displaced people coming back and ending their suffering.
