About this report:

The Information, Return, and Reintegration of Iraqi Nationals to Iraq (IRRINI) programme was established in 2008 by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) to facilitate the voluntary return and reintegration of persons from Iraq. In addition to assisting asylum applicants who are either waiting for a decision or in receipt of a negative one, the IRRINI programme supports the repatriation of Iraqis with Norwegian residence permits. The IRRINI however does not include Iraqi nationals who have been deported by the Norwegian police.

The IRRINI programme was created to examin information about return (before departure), individual career planning/advice (before departure), the cash component, the reintegration support in Iraq: vocational training, job referral, business planning, etc. and individual follow-up after return.

By August 2010 IRRINI had assisted the return of 859 Iraqis to Iraq. This trend has continued after the conclusion of this review, 281 returned to Iraq with IRRINI support between January and June 2011.

The four major findings:

• The IRRINI programme has provided a large number of Iraqi asylum seekers in Norway a dignified alternative to what they perceive to be their only other option, a forced return.
• The majority of the returnees give a positive assessment of the support provided by IOM, though with significant regional variations regarding the reintegration component.
• The majority of those who have returned expect to remain in their area of origin, although this is true for only half the returnees in Baghdad.
• Perceptions formed in Norway regarding conditions in Iraq diverged significantly from returnee experiences, leading to frustrated expectations

This report is available in English only.