Iraq deploys aircraft to locate nomadic tribes for first national census in over 20 years

MUTHANNA — Iraq’s military aircraft will survey the vast desert regions from Samawa to Rabia as part of the upcoming national census, mapping the locations of nomadic Bedouin tribes to facilitate registration. Identified sites will be relayed to census teams, who will visit the encampments to document families with assistance from locals familiar with the desert terrain.

Bedouins, or “Bedu” in Arabic, are nomadic or semi-nomadic Arab tribes native to Iraq’s desert regions. Part of a broader cultural heritage spanning the Arabian Peninsula, these tribes often move in search of water and pasture, making them a unique challenge for census operations.

Given their mobility and use of tents that cannot be easily marked, census teams will issue green cards to counted families. These cards will help prevent duplication if families relocate during the census period.

The national census, Iraq’s first in more than 20 years, is scheduled for Nov. 20, 2024. Approximately 120,000 field researchers will employ advanced electronic data collection systems for the initiative. In Muthanna governorate, 4,100 enumerators have been deployed to support the task, with nomadic populations documented using specialized paper forms.

“The lifestyle of nomads is different from rural and urban areas, as they live in tents and move in search of pasture, water, and rainfall,” said Mustafa Adel, central supervisor for the General Statistics Authority in Muthanna. “For nomads, we rely on a campaign-based approach, sending field researchers through the desert and, when needed, deploying military aircraft to locate gatherings.”

Researchers use paper forms to collect detailed family information, including the head of the household, individual family members, birth dates, social status, and education levels. This data is later digitized at the statistics office. Families receive green cards with their data and the researcher’s name, while blue cards remain at the office as verification of completion.

The dry desert conditions have so far allowed teams to traverse the terrain by vehicle without significant difficulties. “If rains occur, we are prepared to deploy helicopters to access remote areas,” Adel added.