Internal displacement: On the run in your own country

Internal displacement is a global problem affecting millions of people. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), by the end of 2023, a total of 117.3 million people were displaced (as of June 2024). The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) reports that around 75.9 million of these individuals were displaced within their own countries (as of May 2024). These internally displaced persons (IDPs) were forced to leave their homes primarily due to disasters. In 2023 alone, approximately 6.1 million people were displaced by earthquakes, seeking refuge with host families or in refugee camps. Meanwhile, conflicts and violence were the leading causes of displacement in 66 countries and regions. In 2023, 46 percent of the world’s internally displaced persons lived in sub-Saharan Africa, but regions like the Middle East, India, Central and South America, and China were also significantly affected (as of May 2024).

The causes of internal displacement are diverse, ranging from armed conflicts to devastating natural disasters such as floods and storms. Those affected face extreme challenges: wars often last for months or even years, leading to further instability and widespread damage to infrastructure. Disasters and conflicts frequently exacerbate one another and lead to a fatal combination that makes it difficult to help those affected. Many IDPs suffer from poverty, hunger and disease, living on the margins of society. Children and young people in particular have few prospects for the future due to a lack of security and access to education.

The current situation therefore demands urgent solutions and humanitarian aid to support millions of people and ensure they can live in safety and dignity. Malteser International is committed to upholding the rights and protection of internally displaced persons worldwide, striving to improve their living conditions and offer them a brighter future.

Sudan

In Sudan, the civil war and the accompanying wave of violence in 2023 triggered numerous refugee movements, with more than 9 million people displaced within the country by the end of the year. According to the IDMC, this is the highest number recorded for a single country worldwide since 2008 (as of May 2024).

Syria

In Syria, prolonged violent conflicts have led to many people fleeing within the country. The IDMC estimates that around 7.2 million people were displaced in Syria at the end of 2023. Many of them flee from the armed conflicts to refugee camps, which are often not spared from attacks, forcing people to flee again (as of May 2024).

Afghanistan

Conflict has long been the main cause of internal displacement in Afghanistan. However, according to the IDMC, no new conflict-related displacement was recorded in 2023. Nevertheless, around 4.2 million internally displaced people were living there at the end of the year. In October, the earthquake in Herat also triggered around 380,000 internal displacement movements and hit people who were already living as internally displaced persons in Afghanistan particularly hard (as of May 2024).

Distinguishing causes of flight

The reasons for internal displacement vary, but can be roughly divided into two categories:

1. Conflicts and violence: In countries or regions such as Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Gaza Strip or Colombia, armed conflicts, wars and violence are the main causes of displacement. People are fleeing war, armed conflicts and systematic violence that threaten their lives.
2. Natural disasters: In countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, in addition to conflicts, natural disasters such as droughts and floods are also causes of internal displacement. These disasters destroy livelihoods and force refugees to seek safe areas within their home country.

In contrast to international refugees, who can invoke the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention, there is no comparable legal framework for internally displaced persons. They are therefore often dependent on the help of their home government. However, in many instances, these governments are either unable or unwilling to provide the necessary protection due to conflict or limited resources. Because their status and protection are not clearly regulated, many internally displaced persons live in great insecurity as second-class citizens.

This makes it all the more important that humanitarian aid organizations such as Malteser International support IDPs as well as the local host population. They work to ensure that these people have access to basic needs such as food, water, medical care and protection from violence. However, international aid for IDPs is usually only possible with the consent of the respective government. It is therefore more crucial than ever to draw attention to the lack of rights of internally displaced persons at international level and to enshrine these rights.

On a positive note, the plight of IDPs has increasingly become the focus of public attention in recent years. In 1998, the United Nations completed the development of The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. Although these 30 principles are not legally binding, they offer essential recommendations for governments and aid organizations. Some key guidelines include:

• IDPs are entitled to the same rights and freedoms as other people in their country and must not be discriminated against.
• National authorities have the primary responsibility for the protection and humanitarian assistance of IDPs and must ensure that they are neither persecuted nor penalized.
• IDPs must under no circumstances be subjected to assault, slavery, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
• International humanitarian organizations have the right to provide assistance to IDPs and national authorities must allow these organizations unhindered access to IDPs.

Despite these developments, the protection of internally displaced persons remains a central task for humanitarian organizations worldwide, who work tirelessly to give these people the protection they need.

Malteser International supports internally displaced people worldwide and provides comprehensive humanitarian aid. Our support varies depending on the context and emergency situation. It covers various areas in order to meet the most urgent needs of refugees and improve their living conditions in the long term:

• Providing relief supplies

Malteser International offers essential emergency aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have been forced to leave their homes. Depending on the situation, this aid includes blankets, mattresses, kitchen sets, and heaters. Assistance is especially crucial during cold spells, when people are most vulnerable in their temporary shelters.

• Medical care and hygiene

To help refugees on the ground, we set up health centers, offer medical training, organize the cleaning of sanitary facilities in the camps and distribute hygiene kits to families. Our emergency medical aid often focuses on setting up medical structures such as field hospitals, as in the case of North-West Syria or the Gaza Strip. Healthcare is provided in these makeshift hospitals by local specialists recruited by Malteser International. In addition to providing initial medical care in crisis areas, Malteser International places particular emphasis on long-term and emergency care for internally displaced persons and the host community. Special attention is also paid to mother-child health, the care of the wounded and chronically ill, as well as the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

• Food and water supply

We provide access to clean drinking water and other WASH services to displaced people seeking shelter in camps. In addition, Malteser International distributes food as an emergency response, such as in Gaza, and also runs longer-term food security programs, such as training and the provision of agricultural resources like seeds and tools. Our focus is also on special nutritional measures for malnourished and undernourished infants and pregnant women.

• Psychosocial Support

The experiences of violence, flight and loss leave deep psychological scars on displaced people. Malteser International offers psychosocial support to those affected, as is currently the case in Syria and Nigeria. This includes, for example, measures for survivors of sexual violence and psychological first aid courses. In western Ukraine, play mobiles also provide playful and age-appropriate psychosocial support in the form of sports, handicrafts and games.

In order to continue and expand our work for internally displaced people, we need your help. With your donation, we can support the people on the ground in the long term and provide them with the necessary relief supplies. Help us now with your donation. Every contribution counts and can make a lasting difference to the lives of displaced people.