IDPs

Japan-funded housing project launched in Mosul to support returning families

NINEVEH — Local authorities in Mosul unveiled the Japanese Village project Monday, aiming to provide housing for families returning to the city. Funded by the Japanese government through the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the initiative includes the construction of 384 housing units across 16 buildings.

“The Japanese Village project has officially begun in Mosul,” said Nineveh Governor Abdulqader Al-Dakhil in remarks to the state newspaper AL-Sabah. “The project aims to provide advanced and adequate housing that meets the needs of returning families and addresses climate change challenges.”

Designed with cutting-edge Japanese architectural techniques, the housing units seek to create a safe and suitable environment for families resettling in Mosul. Al-Dakhil added, “This initiative is a vital step toward improving living conditions and adapting to climate change.”

The project comes in the wake of significant displacement caused by the conflict with the Islamic State between 2014 and 2017, which led to the displacement of approximately six million Iraqis. As of April 30, 2023, Iraq has about 1.16 million internally displaced persons and roughly 4.84 million returnees.

In recent developments, the Ministry of Migration and Displacement reported in August 2024 that over 500 IDPs returned to their areas in Nineveh from the Hassan Sham and Khazir camps. In October 2024, the ministry announced the return of more than 400 displaced individuals to their original residences in Nineveh