Internally Displaced Persons
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are people who have been forced to suddenly flee their homes in large numbers. Even though some of the IDPs are displaced because of natural disasters, such as earthquakes or volcano eruptions, the majority are forces to leave their home to avoid armed conflicts or gross human rights violations. According to UNDP, the displaced are often among the poorest in their societies, both before their displacement and almost certainly afterward.
By definition, IDPs remained within the borders of their country of origin but were unable to stay in their homes. This adds complexity to the provision of aid. According to international law, the primary responsibility for assisting IDPs lies in the hands of the home government. Unfortunately, national governments are often unable (even in some cases non-existent) or unwilling to deal with the issue. NGOs can get involved only after government approval is granted.
According to the UN Economic and Social Council Commission of Human Rights IDP Report of 2003, while refugees outnumbered IDPs by a factor of 10 to 1 in 1982, today there are twice as many IDPs as there are refugees. Currently, there are about 25 million IDPs in 50 countries around the world.
Global IDP Project reports that more people are internally displaced on the African continent than in the rest of the world put together. At the end of 2003, Africa was home to an estimated 13 million IDPs, over half of total IDPs around the world. In contrast, Africa's refugee population was estimated at approximately 3.5 million (2002). Recent conflicts in the DR Congo, Uganda, Sudan, Liberia, and in the Central African Republic added to the plight of African people. Sudan has the largest IDP population in Africa of 4 million, followed by the DR Congo with 3 million and Uganda with 1.2 million.
Currently, over a quarter of a million Palestinians are IDPs.
Read more:
The Brookings Institution
United Nations Development Programme
Human Rights Watch
International Committee of the Red Cross
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are people who have been forced to suddenly flee their homes in large numbers. Even though some of the IDPs are displaced because of natural disasters, such as earthquakes or volcano eruptions, the majority are forces to leave their home to avoid armed conflicts or gross human rights violations. According to UNDP, the displaced are often among the poorest in their societies, both before their displacement and almost certainly afterward.
By definition, IDPs remained within the borders of their country of origin but were unable to stay in their homes. This adds complexity to the provision of aid. According to international law, the primary responsibility for assisting IDPs lies in the hands of the home government. Unfortunately, national governments are often unable (even in some cases non-existent) or unwilling to deal with the issue. NGOs can get involved only after government approval is granted.
According to the UN Economic and Social Council Commission of Human Rights IDP Report of 2003, while refugees outnumbered IDPs by a factor of 10 to 1 in 1982, today there are twice as many IDPs as there are refugees. Currently, there are about 25 million IDPs in 50 countries around the world.
Global IDP Project reports that more people are internally displaced on the African continent than in the rest of the world put together. At the end of 2003, Africa was home to an estimated 13 million IDPs, over half of total IDPs around the world. In contrast, Africa's refugee population was estimated at approximately 3.5 million (2002). Recent conflicts in the DR Congo, Uganda, Sudan, Liberia, and in the Central African Republic added to the plight of African people. Sudan has the largest IDP population in Africa of 4 million, followed by the DR Congo with 3 million and Uganda with 1.2 million.
Currently, over a quarter of a million Palestinians are IDPs.
Read more:
The Brookings Institution
United Nations Development Programme
Human Rights Watch
International Committee of the Red Cross
posted by Evgenia @ 2/16/2004 02:54:00 PM
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