Context: Nearly 51 million internally displaced in 33 countries in first half of 2021 according to a report (Mid-Year Trends 2021 Report) by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

• Published by: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
• Aim: To monitor the humanitarian plight of the displaced refugees.

Key highlights

• Trend of rising forced displacement continued into 2021, with global numbers exceeding 84 million, an increase from 82.4 million at the end of 2020.

Key Findings

• In the first half of 2021, 126,700 refugees returned to 23 countries of origin from 41 countries of asylum.
• More than 4.3 million new displacements were reported by 18 countries.
• In the first half of 2021, millions more people were forced to flee their homes due to armed conflicts, generalized violence or human rights violations.

Much of the new internal displacement was in Africa

• Africa accounted for 80 percent of the most neglected displacement crises across the globe.
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo (1.3 million), Ethiopia (1.2 million), Central African Republic (202,500), South Sudan (170,400), Nigeria (164,600), Mozambique and Burkina Faso.
• Internal and cross-border mobility in the East and Horn of Africa contributed to around 6.5 million internally displaced persons (IDP) and 3.5 million refugees and asylum seekers in 2020 alone.
• By mid-2021, due to conflict and violence, the number of internally displaced persons had risen to nearly 50.9 million.
• Intensifying violence led to significant new displacements in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Myanmar, South Sudan and countries in the Sahel region, among other locations.
• Challenges Faced by Internally Displacement Persons (IDPs)
• IDPs can live under threat of physical attack, sexual- or gender-based violence, and run the risk of being separated from family members.
• They are frequently deprived of adequate shelter, food and health services, and often lose their property, land or their access to livelihoods.

Factors of Internal Displacement in India

• Secessionist Movements: Since independence, north-east India has witnessed two major armed conflicts – the Naga movement and Assam movement.
• Jammu & Kashmir’s war between state forces and militants, had led to mass exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits.
• Identity-based Autonomy Movements: Identity-based autonomy movements, such as in Bodoland, Punjab, Gorkhaland and Ladakh, have also led to violence and displacement.
• Localized Violence: Internal displacement has also arisen from caste disputes (as in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh), religious fundamentalism and the ‘son-of-the soil policy (aggressive denial of residency and employment rights to non-indigenous groups).
• Environmental and Development-induced Displacement: In order to achieve rapid economic growth, India has invested in industrial projects, dams, roads, mines, power plants and new cities which have been made possible only through massive acquisition of land and subsequent displacement of people.

Road Ahead

• Need for Policy Framework: India needs to formulate migration centric policies, strategies, and institutional mechanisms in order to ensure inclusive growth and development and reduce distress induced migration.
• Providing Justice: The government at Centre needs to provide amenities and social securities for Internally displaced population, which is riddled with the issues of inadequate housing; low-paid, insecure or hazardous work; extreme vulnerability of women and children to trafficking and sex exploitation etc.

By: Shubham Tiwari