Rising displacement, renewed commitment to solutions in 2025

While we are still gathering and validating the data from this year, conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine, the DRC and elsewhere, and sudden and slow onset disasters from the Americas to the Horn of Africa, give us no reason to believe that the number of internally displaced people will decrease from the record of 75.9 million at the end of 2023.

In times like these, it is easy to lose hope. But we know that if governments and their partners see the issue, understand it, and take ownership of addressing it, progress is possible. That is a lot of “ifs”, but many are already taking meaningful steps to do so.

In Africa, home today to half of the world’s internally displaced people, 27 African countries have at least one policy or legal framework to address displacement. Mozambique, Somalia and South Sudan are incorporating displacement into peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts, while Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria and Zambia include it in climate adaptation or disaster risk reduction plans. We’ve also seen growing subnational leadership in Kenya and Nigeria.

Government leadership extends far beyond Africa, from Colombia to Iraq to the Philippines to Ukraine, to name a few. Many of these governments are developing new policies and committing significant financial resources into helping displaced people find solutions.

Yet, this progress is still falling short of turning the tide. The number of people living in internal displacement has risen 50 per cent in the last five years, amplifying the need for a more effective combination of immediate humanitarian support and longer-term solutions.

“Prevention is the best medicine” also applies to resolving internal displacement. If governments invest in addressing the underlying issues that make people more vulnerable to displacement today, they can reduce the number of people forced to flee tomorrow. Investments in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and peacebuilding reduce the risk of displacement and prevent its knock-on effects on future generations.

While the primary responsibility for addressing internal displacement lies with governments, helping to finance solutions is where the international community can play a valuable role. There are countless opportunities, from development and climate financing to private sector investments.

The Loss and Damage Fund established in international climate negotiations recognises internal displacement in its scope. Developed nations can do their part by fully funding it and other climate adaptation and resilience efforts. Official development assistance and multilateral development banks can support the inclusion of internal displacement into national development planning. They can also invest in projects to address underlying causes of displacement and to put people on sustainable paths to reestablishing their lives.

As we enter 2025, we also enter a new era for policy around internal displacement. Much of the progress I noted above comes from five years of momentum from governments, the UN Secretary-General, his High-Level Panel and the last two years of work by the Office of the Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement led by Robert Piper. With the Special Adviser’s mandate coming to an end this month, we need governments, with support from their partners, to lead the charge, keep the momentum and show others the way.

Amidst the uncertainty in these fraught times, one thing will remain certain: IDMC will continue to support governments in their efforts by providing the data and evidence needed to inform policies and actions that can reduce the scope, scale and negative impacts of internal displacement.

I look forward to working with all our partners and donors in 2025 toward solutions that stand the test of time.