Addis Ababa, 12 December 2016: The Africa Report on Internal Displacement was launched in Addis Ababa on Friday December 9 at the High Level Dialogue on Displacement. The report finds that in 2015 alone, 3.5 million people were newly displaced by conflict, violence and rapid-onset disasters in Africa. This is an average of more than 9,500 people per day uprooted from their homes. At the end of 2015, a total of 12.4 million people were living in on-going displacement in 21 African countries as a result of conflict and violence. Each of these numbers represent a personal tragedy and present a challenge for local, national and international responders.

Preliminary figures for the first half of 2016 suggest that this year will be no better. In future, climate change will only exacerbate this trend, with recurrent floods, drought, rising temperatures and environmental degradation amplifying people’s exposure and vulnerability.

In her welcome remarks, Ms. Yemisrach Kebede, Resident Representative, NRC African Union Liaison Office, stated that The Norwegian Refugee Council, the representation office to the African Union and the specialized internal displacement monitoring center are very pleased with their continued partnership with the African Union and the political support that has been received in completing the report. The flagship Report and the dialogue she highlighted, are products of the partnership pillars which commenced in 2013.

The Report looks into matters relating to internal displacement in Africa and then further explores the often missing linkages between conflict natural hazards and development projects as both drivers and consequences of displacement.

She further underlined that “African member states who bear the responsibility for the collection of timely and accurate data on displacement have made significant strides in efforts to do just that”.

In closing she called upon African Member states to ratify and implement the Kampala Convention in order to deliver concrete solutions to the millions of African who live in displacement. 

Following the welcome remarks, Mr. Olabisi Dare, Head, Humanitarian Affairs, Refugee and Displaced Persons Division in his opening remarks stated that Africa continues to host tragic events including man-made and natural disasters with the current figure of displaced people standing at 12.4 million.

“Bearing this reality in mind”, he stated, “The AU has formulated a number of policies and legal instruments to advance the rights of displaced persons”.

He further underscored that Kampala Convention, he highlighted is the only legally binding document that addresses the rights and protection needs of internally displaced persons.

“The figure of 12.4 million internally displaced people (IDPs) is more than double Africa’s 5.4 million refugee population across the continent, and is a reminder of the protracted nature of many conflicts in Africa. But it still underestimates the full scale of Africa’s internal displacement crisis because data over time is not available for the millions more who become trapped in displacement as a result of disasters and development projects,” said Alexandra Bilak, Director of the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).

“This Report offers a timely reminder of the scale and complexity of internal displacement as we mark the anniversary of the entry into force of the Kampala convention, Africa’s landmark commitment to preventing internal displacement and protecting the rights of IDPs,” concluded Sahli Fadel

For Further Information contact: 

Ms Sian Bowen, Head of Communications/ Email: sian.bowen@idmc.ch /Office Tel: 00 41 22 552 3612 /Mobile: 00 41 (0) 78 630 16 78      

Ms Francesca Da Ros/ Communications Coordinator/Email: francesca.da.ros@idmc.ch /Office Tel: + 41 22 552 3645