Displacement is due to climate shocks, especially floods and droughts, conflict, and violence
Sudanese refugees. Photo: @Refugees / Twitter There were approximately 11.71 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes (EHAGL) region as of March 31, 2023, according to a situation report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at the UN Refugee Agency.
The IDP population mainly in Burundi, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan was estimated at 75,300, 2.73 million, 3 million, over 2.23 million and over 3.7 million people respectively.
The drivers of displacement are complex and varied. Some are conflict, climatic and natural disasters.
In East Africa’s Burundi, the majority of the displacements were due to climate-related incidents like violent winds, torrential rains and flooding. In recent years, the large and rapid rise of Lake Tanganyika caused over 84 per cent of the country’s internal migration. Burundi is globally one of the 20 most climate-vulnerable countries.
Most of the internal displacement in Ethiopia is due to localised conflicts and inter-communal violence. Several regions in Ethiopia have also seen climate shocks and displacements due to natural disasters such as drought and flooding.
The internal displacement in Somalia was associated with conflict/insecurity (52 per cent), drought (31 per cent) and flooding (16 per cent).
An estimated 190,000 persons have been internally displaced from Somalia’s Sool region following armed conflict centred in Laas Caanood district.
Drought affects the entire country, with the Bay region receiving the most number of persons displaced by drought. The Gedo region has experienced the most flood-displaced persons.
Between January and March 2023, around 150,000 individuals in South Sudan were forcibly displaced by conflict and inter-communal violence.
The arrival of the dry season in South Sudan (December-May) has escalated forced displacement in the country owing to an increase in the mobility of actors engaged in various conflicts around the country as well as cattle grazing and raiding. This is distinct from displacement during the wet season, which predominantly relates to flooding.
In Sudan, the internal displacement is mainly due to the long standing conflict in Darfur since 2004.
In addition, seasonal floods in the country cause annual mass displacements. Globally, Sudan is one of the 20 countries most vulnerable to damage from a higher flooding frequency.
In 2023, 135,000 people in the EHAGL region are predicted to be in need of resettlement.
UNHCR has budgeted US $2.021 billion for the region in 2023, with growing needs in nine of the region’s 11 countries, especially Burundi, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. It aims to support efforts to maintain open asylums across the region. It also presses people internationally to protect and assist those displaced in their return or resettlement elsewhere.
In South Sudan, UNHCR’s Pockets of Hope initiative pledges to help provide a fresh start to returning refugees. The status-blind initiative invests in interventions in refugee areas to build resilience and government responsibility.
As per its Regional Overview report, UNHCR faces the challenge of limited funding in its community-based protection response efforts and clusters on protection, camp management and shelter items.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.