Internal displacement in Africa has reached unprecedented levels

Geneva, 6 December 2019 – Nearly 17 million people were living in a situation of displacement within their own countries in Africa by the end of 2018. This is the highest figure ever recorded for the continent, and around 40 per cent of the global total. As the African Union (AU) marks the tenth anniversary of the Kampala Convention, the world’s first legally binding regional treaty on internal displacement, a new report launched today shows that the scale of displacement is likely to continue unabated.

Africa has consistently experienced more displacement associated with conflict and violence than any other region in the world over the past decade, and annual average figures have increased sharply. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) recorded more than 7.5 million new displacements triggered by conflict and violence in 2018 alone. 

Disasters, such as floods, storms and drought, triggered a further 2.6 million new displacements during the year, and more than 21 million over the decade. Though the figures for disasters have remained steady (with the exception of 2012 which experienced significant floods), events in 2019 thus far suggest that the scale of internal displacement in Africa is not likely to diminish. 

“The African Union declared 2019 the year of refugees, returnees and internally displaced people to mark the tenth anniversary of the Kampala Convention. While there have been some promising developments throughout the year, such as Ethiopia, Niger and Somalia adopting laws and policies on internal displacement, the overall rise in displacement across Africa this past decade shows that measures to establish peace and improve security, reduce disaster risk, or adapt to the effects of climate change have not been sufficient,” said Alexandra Bilak, Director of IDMC.

Africa is home to some of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, many of which are under-reported and under-funded. Conflict in Cameroon’s anglophone regions in 2018 triggered 20 times more displacement than the Boko Haram insurgency. 

The region is undergoing rapid and unplanned urbanisation, which has exposed a greater number of people to displacement risk. Climate change is also making natural hazards more intense and less predictable. These factors combine to drive a high level of displacement risk in the region. 

Cyclones Idai and Kenneth struck southern Africa in March and April 2019, causing widespread damage and displacing over 600,000 people. One of the reasons the powerful storms had such a devastating impact is because they hit poor and vulnerable areas already affected by Southern Africa’s extended drought. Cyclone Idai also barrelled over the coastal city of Beira, home to half a million people.  

“The Kampala Convention provides a solid basis for action and this anniversary offers an opportunity to catalyse change. Internal displacement presents a major obstacle for achieving peace, prosperity, growth and sustainable development. Greater political will to develop and implement policies and long-term social and economic investments will be essential. It’s time to turn words into action,” said Alexandra Bilak. 

NOTES TO EDITORS

About IDMC:

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) is the world's authoritative source of data and analysis on internal displacement. Since its establishment in 1998, as part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), IDMC has offered a rigorous, independent and trusted service to the international community. Our work informs policy and operational decisions that improve the lives of the millions of people living in internal displacement, or at risk of becoming displaced in the future.  

Reports:

View and download the Africa Report on Internal Displacement 2019 here. 

Included in the report in the first estimates of the economic impact of internal displacement on sub-Saharan Africa, at the region and national levels. Find more information this is press release: Internal displacement costs Africa $4 billion every year

For interviews please contact:  

Frankie Parrish, IDMC  
Email: frankie.parrish@idmc.ch      
Office: + 41 22 552 36 45  
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