The International Organization for Migration says there are now 2.25 million internally displaced people in Iraq.
A statement from the Geneva-based organization Tuesday says the number of displaced almost doubled after the bombing of the Shia Muslim al-Askari shrine in Samara in February of 2006.
The agency says the majority of displaced are renting substandard shelters or are staying with family and friends. In both cases, they are straining local resources.
In its latest review, the organization cited some progress in parts of Baghdad and the western province of al-Anbar, where security has improved. The report said Anbar has slowly stabilized, in large part because of the increased cooperation between a coalition of Sunni tribes formed in 2006, and Iraqi and U.S. forces.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
