Campaign for displaced people
Mar 3rd, 2009 by Louise Williams, OCHA
“arguably the most significant humanitarian challenge that we face.”
IDPs
The term Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) refers to those who have been forced to flee their homes due to violence or natural or man-made disaster. By 2007, the United Nations estimates, the number of people displaced by armed conflicts and violence passed the 26 million mark. They haven’t crossed an international border, so they’re not protected by international refugee law. Their needs are frequently neglected by their own government, they’re subject to abuse, discrimination and neglect in their own homelands.
At this time, the ten-year anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, it is clear that more needs to be done to secure strengthened humanitarian and political action and protect displaced people that are increasingly at the forefront of humanitarian tragedies.
New York: On 18 December 2008, Sir John Holmes launched OCHA’s global IDP advocacy campaign.
Bangui: The Central African Republic was selected as the first pilot country; on 28 January 2009, the CAR campaign was launched.
Being displaced in CAR means:
- Losing your family
- Losing your shelter
- Losing your livelihood
- Losing your dignity
Aims of Campaign
- For displacement to become a key focus area in humanitarian and development activities in the country
- For support to the displaced population and zones of return to be coordinated and coherent
- For solutions to displacement to be found in the context of the quest for durable solutions
- For greater media attention to the plight of displaced people
Violence drives displacement, fear hinders return
Why advocacy now?
The Central African Republic is one of the poorest countries in the world and basic health indicators remain among the worst in Africa. As domestic and international attention turns towards supporting a peaceful resolution to the conflict in CAR, it is imperative that those who have been most affected by the conflict are not forgotten: the displaced people who have been forced to flee their homes due to the conflict.
For more information
- Visit the Global IDP Campaign Website
- Contact: Louise Williams | United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Bangui | Central African Republic | idpcampaign@hdptcar.net
Partners
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
- United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
- Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
- Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC)
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