UNHCR projects that the number of people who are internally displaced due to conflict and violence will reach almost 63 million in 2024.
Globally, the right to be protected from internal displacement continues to be undermined. Most situations where UNHCR works are in active conflict areas and characterized by recurrent violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, particularly against civilians. Drought, food insecurity and other climate-related disasters are increasing people’s vulnerability, disrupting their livelihoods and increasing displacement. UNHCR’s needs-based budget for the year includes almost $2 billion for IDP programmes. In Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, the humanitarian situation will remain a driver of internal displacement. The number of people returning from internal displacement is expected to increase in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Ukraine and Yemen.
Tackling the challenge of internal displacement means advocating for and reinforcing the primary responsibility of States, including non-State parties to conflicts where relevant, to assist and protect people in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights law. It also means that protection of internally displaced people is not a separate activity but rather the principle underlying UNHCR’s activities on the ground.
In 2024 UNHCR expects to have IDP response operations underway in 36 countries, with an emphasis on protection and solutions, UNHCR’s areas of expertise and comparative advantage. It will combine this operational engagement with its leading role in the clusters of aid organizations working on camp coordination and camp management (CCCM), protection and shelter.
UNHCR will ensure the lead on protection advocacy either through the protection cluster or as a standalone agency. UNHCR will also continue its leading efforts in joint protection analysis, centrality of protection implementation, and Accountability to Affected People (AAP).
The approach brings UNHCR closer to the people who have been displaced, builds its credibility with cluster partners and strengthens relationships with governments, especially at the local level. Helping to meet critical humanitarian needs also builds the trust required for dialogue on sensitive protection issues. Delivery at the point of displacement remains the priority. UNHCR will continue to prioritize follow-up to the recommendations of the “Independent review of the implementation of the IASC protection policy” (2022), particularly those specifically related to the Global Protection Cluster (GPC), and the High Commissioner will continue to co-champion inter-agency efforts on centrality of protection.
UNHCR will raise awareness and promote the implementation of recently adopted IDP laws in countries such as Chad and Honduras, and will support reforms to strengthen the legislative and policy framework for protection and solutions for IDPs in countries such as Burkina Faso, Colombia, Ethiopia, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria and Ukraine.
