Iraqi authorities push refugees to return for vote

BAGHDAD — Iraqi authorities are increasing pressure on families in camps in western Anbar province, displaced during the war against the Islamic State group, to return to their homesaheadofnationalelections in May, international aid agencies warned on Wednesday.

The 2014 IS blitz that resulted in the capture of large areas of territory in northern and western Iraq, and the more-than-three-year war against IS that followed, displaced nearly 6 million people. More than half have returned to their homes, but about 2.6 million people are still uprooted.

The Danish Refugee Council, the International Rescue Committee and the Norwegian Refugee Council said the drive comes as Iraqi officials have suggested they would like to see people move back to vote because it isn’t currently possible to vote in displacement camps.

“It’s tragic to think that people feel saferincampsthanintheirhomes when this conflict has supposedly ended,” said Petr Kostohryz, NRC country director in Iraq.

The Iraqi government denies forcing internally displaced families to return against their will.

“Though the government policy and main goal is to encourage a quick return of displaced families to their areas of origin, this must be voluntarily and not by forcing them to do so,” government spokesman Saad al-hadithi said.