Mitigating Local Conflict and Supporting Community Protection Systems in Sinjar and Ba'aj

Six years after the Islamic State (IS) carried out atrocities against the Yazidi population in Sinjar district and three years after IS was driven out of neighbouring Ba’aj district, communities in both areas of Iraq’s Ninewa governate face widespread insecurity as a result of inter and intra- communal conflict, militarization and lack of trust between state duty bearers in civilian population. With the Government of Iraq’s (GoI) ongoing efforts to close IDP camps in Ninewa by early 2021, returns to both districts are likely to accelerate quickly, potentially further exacerbating risks to communities in both districts.