Research Report: On-Hold Displacement, Climate Stress, and Early Childhood Wellbeing in Qushtapa Refugee Camp, Kurdistan, Iraq

Researcher: Manly Kharbosh

Research Mentor: Garene Kaloustian

This study examines how climate-related conditions relate to the mental health of young children and caregivers in Qushtapa refugee camp, Iraq, home to displaced Syrian Kurdish families experiencing “on-hold displacement” — where drought and lost livelihoods, rather than ongoing conflict, now block return to areas of origin. Using a play-based child assessment and caregiver questionnaire with 50 children and 20 caregivers, the research finds that the large majority of children associated heat, dust, and water shortage with sadness, while most caregivers believed return was unlikely due to climate-driven livelihood collapse. Caregivers reported climate-linked mood changes in both themselves and their children, suggesting possible transmission of distress within households. Despite this, children showed strong social support and high rates of daily play. The study recommends embedding child mental health into climate adaptation and displacement planning.

Keywords: displacement; climate stress; refugee children; mental health; Iraq; Kurdistan; caregiver well-being; durable solutions