VOA常速英语:百姓有家难回，究竟谁之过？

In former Islamic State’s strongholds like the city of Mosul,around 1.7 million Iraqis who fled the violence have returned home, according to United Nations’ figures.

But more than 3 million remain displaced, some in refugee camps,others with family or in private accommodations in other parts of Iraq.

A recent study by the International Organization for Migration looked at the reasons why so many feel they cannot return home.

One reason is fear over reprisals stemming from ethnic divisions in Iraq, according to Hala Jaber who spoke to VOA via Skype.

“The main obstacle obviously is security, but if they fear the security access or are actually in the areas they ‘re going back to, they don’t return."

In some places, 85 percent of buildings and infrastructure were destroyed during the fighting.

“It sometimes delay(s) people from returning, until they can fix their homes. Livelihood options are another major issue.”

For the ethnic Yazidi people, going home means reliving the horrors visited upon them by Islamic State.Thousands were murdered, and women and girls forced to become sex slaves – actions recognized as genocide by the United Nations.

A recent conference organized by British charity, the AMAR Foundation, sought to find solutions to help Yazidi refugees return home.Founder Emma Nicholson said many of the camps are not fit for that purpose.

“Refugee camps are no longer a place of refuge.They are places of child trafficking, of forced marriage, of murders, of lack of safety.”

The grandson of the prince of the Yazidis, the group’s spiritual leader, was among those attending the conference.

“The community doesn’t have faith anymore in humanity. We lost that faith. And so we need a safe place over there.But at this time it’s really difficult to tell them to go back.”

Aid groups say the Yazidis desperately need psychological and spiritual support,to rebuild their lives, otherwise many may never return home.

Henry Ridgwell, for VOA news, London.