Basic Necessities for Internally Displaced Children

Internally displaced children often lack access to the basic necessities needed for survival.

Internally displaced children have the right to shelter, yet frequently these children and their families find themselves sleeping by the side of the road or under the most rudimentary, unsanitary structures (See State of Neglect: Displaced Children in the Central African Republic). Overwhelmingly, families lose housing and property in displacement, and have difficulties reclaiming that property, leading to long-term poverty for affected populations (See Land, Housing and Property Issues). Displaced children in urban areas may face particular issues with access to basic necessities (see Internal displacement to urban areas: the Tufts-IDMC profiling study)

Internally displaced children have the right to essential food and potable water, yet for many children, they find themselves without these basic necessities during flight and in refuge. Particularly vulnerable children, including those in households headed by women, may struggle to get food distributions, as in Pakistan in 2009.

Internally displaced children have the right to health and essential medical services. However, in displacement children find themselves in precarious situations with no access to medical facilities, or where the access is extremely limited and culturally inappropriate. Children in the Philippines in 2009, for example, saw their health decline thanks to crowded living conditions, high levels of malnutrition, and lack of affordable healthcare (See Cycle of conflict and neglect: Mindanao's displacement and protection crisis).

In flight, and sometimes in refuge, children are separated from their families or caretakers, who would normally provide protection and care. These children then become more susceptible to abuse and exploitation. ICRC works to restore family links when children are separated.


Back to Internally Displaced Children