The worldwide internal displacement situation showed few tangible signs of improvement during 2004, according to a report published by the Global IDP Project in March 2005. The report, entitled Internal Displacement: Trends and Developments in 2004, concludes that the total number of people internally displaced by conflict and human rights violations remained almost unchanged at 25 million.
“Internally displaced people are among the most vulnerable victims of conflict, and constitute arguably the largest at-risk population in the world.”
While some three million people were newly displaced in 2004, mainly in Darfur/Sudan, Uganda and Iraq, about the same number of IDPs were able to return to their homes in the course of the year. The largest return movements took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Liberia but there were concerns that conditions in many return areas would not allow for the sustainable reintegration of returnees. Altogether some 50 countries on all continents were affected by conflict-induced internal displacement.
Africa remained the continent by far the worst affected by internal displacement, hosting more than half of the world’s IDPs– over 13 million people. Sudan was home to the world’s largest internal displacement crisis, with some 6 million IDPs. Other countries with large internally displaced populations include Colombia (up to 3.3 million), the Democratic Republic of Congo (2.3 million), Uganda (up to 2 million) and Iraq (over 1 million).
The report reveals that most IDPs do not receive adequate humanitarian assistance, nor are they sufficiently protected from violence and human rights abuses. In 2004, three in four IDPs - more than 18 million people - could not count on the authorities in their country for the provision of adequate assistance. In 14 countries, with a total of over 12 million IDPs, governments reacted with hostility or, at best, indifference to the protection needs of the internally displaced. Even worse, in at least 13 countries the very governments responsible under international law for protecting their citizens were themselves behind forced displacement and attacks on IDPs, either directly or through militias, including in Burma (Myanmar), Nepal, Sudan and Colombia.
Attempts by the international community to fill the gaps left by national governments remained weak, according to the report. Although in 2004 agencies reaffirmed their commitment to ensure a collaborative and comprehensive response to internal displacement, this did not lead to tangible improvements on the ground. The international response continued to be crippled by agency competition, diffuse responsibilities, lack of accountability and insufficient resources. In 14 countries, the UN – the largest provider of humanitarian aid – was not involved at all in providing targeted assistance to IDPs.
The report this year includes not only sections on global trends and regional developments but also chapters on major thematic issues related to internal displacement, such as health and nutrition, women and children, property issues, and shelter and housing. The full report can be downloaded from the Global IDP Project’s website at www.idpproject.org, or ordered by sending an e-mail to idpproject@nrc.ch.
The Global IDP Project provides training to UN, international NGO and national actors to strengthen the knowledge on the rights and needs of IDPs, promote dialogue on IDP protection and facilitate practical follow-up activities such as coordination, monitoring and advocacy. In 2004, NRC conducted eight training workshops and briefings for over 200 participants. Workshops in Ethiopia, Somalia and Jordan (for the Iraq country team) were organised following the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator’s request to NRC to take over responsibility for responding to UN Country Teams’ needs for training on the Guiding Principles and IDP protection. For more information on our training programme, visit our training page at www.idpproject.org/training.htm or email us at christophe.beau@nrc.ch.