While internal displacement in Africa has tripled in 15 years amid a spate of conflict and violence, there’s a six-fold increase in the number of internally displaced people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters, a new report has announced.
The report, released by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) noted that the number of people living in internal displacement as a result of conflict and violence in Africa has increased from 10.2 million in 2009 to 32.5 million in 2023.
However, in comparison, the displacements caused by disasters have risen more sharply, increasing nearly six-fold between 2009 and 2023. The number of times people were forced to flee disasters each year increased from 1.1 million displacements in 2009 to 6.3 million in 2023.
This surge in 15 years is largely driven by climate-related events such as floods and droughts, highlighting the growing impact of environmental disasters on displacement patterns across the continent.
Flooding, which impacts every region of the continent, is responsible for over 75 per cent of these displacements, while droughts contribute to an additional 11 per cent.
Floods have triggered more than three-quarters of Africa’s disaster-induced displacements and most have taken place during each region’s rainy season.
For example, 69 per cent of the disaster-displacements in eastern Africa were due to floods.
Most of these have taken place during the Gu season between March and May, and the Deyr season between October and December. In western Africa, floods accounted for 99 per cent of disaster-displacements.
Most of such displacements occurred between June and September. Such trends revealed in the report calls for an effective preparedness plan to deal with such events, during the rainy season. These include early warning, land use planning and water management.
Climate change is making weather-related hazards more frequent and more intense, acknowledged the IDMC.
This has also been evident from the climate attribution studies published by the World Weather Attribution in recent years. It is also amplifying other factors that make communities more vulnerable to disaster displacement, increasing the risk of future movements.
In Africa, Cyclones Idai and Freddy are recognised as the largest disaster-related displacement events in the past 15 years.
Nigeria reported the highest number of displaced people, totaling 8.7 million, with nearly three-quarters affected by two significant floods in 2012 and 2022. These events accounted for over 70 per cent of all flood-related displacements in the country.
According to the report, two cyclones—Idai and Freddy—were the most significant disaster-related displacement events in Africa over the past 15 years, impacting communities in Southern Africa.
Meanwhile, in the Horn of Africa, recurring droughts and floods have led to widespread displacement, deepening the region’s vulnerabilities. Over the past 15 years, the area has endured three major droughts—in 2011, 2017, and 2022—that severely disrupted agricultural production and undermined food security. Adding to these challenges, growing evidence indicates that water scarcity has escalated conflicts and heightened competition for limited natural resources.
The displacement trends over the past 15 years highlight the urgent need for effective implementation of conventions and policies at the regional level.
In 2009, the African Union adopted the Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa which is also known as the Kampala Convention.
This was the first—and remains the only—legally binding regional instrument that addresses all causes and phases of displacement. It demonstrated the commitment of African nations to tackle the issue and set international standards for its management.
However, by the end of 2023, Africa was home to 35 million internally displaced people (IDPs), nearly half of the global total and three times more than in 2009. While many countries have developed legal and policy frameworks and made notable investments in addressing internal displacement over the past 15 years, the rising numbers indicate that much more remains to be done stated the report
As of July 2024, around 34 countries have ratified the treaty. Many countries have developed legal and policy frameworks and made meaningful investments too in addressing internal displacement.
Africa is heavily impacted by displacement, driven by persistent conflicts often linked to competition over scarce resources and worsened by climate change. However, escalating conflicts and extreme weather events fueled by climate change have increased community vulnerability, leaving governments struggling to effectively respond to the growing crisis.
“To reverse the trends and keep the promise of the Kampala Convention alive for the next 15 years, governments must redouble commitments to addressing displacement’s underlying drivers through peacebuilding, climate action and sustainable development,” said Alexandra Bilak, IDMC director, in her statement
Preventing displacement and supporting people in rebuilding their lives requires more than short-term relief; it demands sustained, long-term investments, according to the IDMC. The organization emphasised the critical role of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD) Regional Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030) in fostering regional cooperation to prevent conflicts, disasters, and displacement.
IDMC also urged nations to integrate internal displacement into broader national frameworks, including development plans, disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies, climate adaptation policies, peace agreements, and urban and education policies. This integrated approach ensures that displacement issues are addressed comprehensively across all sectors of government.