Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T01:27:21.375Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Internally Displaced Persons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Xavier Leus ,
Jane Wallace  and
Alessandro Loretti
Alessandro Loretti
Affiliation:
Emergency and Humanitarian Action Department of the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

There were estimated to be over 20 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the end of 1999, a number that surpasses global estimates of refugees. Displacement exposes IDPs to new hazards and accrued vulnerability. These dynamics result in greater risk for the development of illness and death. Often, access of IDPs to health care and humanitarian assistance is excluded deliberately by conflicting parties. Furthermore, the arrival of IDPs into another community or region strains local health systems, and the host population ends up sharing the sufferings of the internally displaced. Health outcomes are dismaying.

From a health perspective, the best option is to avoid human displacement. WHO contributes to the prevention of displacement by working for sustainable development. Placing health high on the political agenda helps maintain stability, and thereby, reduce the likelihood for displacement.

Primary responsibility for assisting IDPs, irrespective of the cause, rests with the national government. However, where the government is unwilling or unable to provide the necessary aid, the international humanitarian community must step in, with WHO playing a major role in the health sector.

There is consensus among the partners of the World Health Organization (WHO) that, in emergencies, the WHO must: 1) take the lead in rapid health assessment, epidemiological and nutritional surveillance, epidemic preparedness, essential drugs management, control of communicable diseases, and physical and psychosocial rehabilitation; and 2) provide guidelines and advice on nutritional requirements and rehabilitation, immunisation, medical relief items, and reproductive health.

If the vital health needs of IDPs—security, food, water, shelter, sanitation and household items—are not satisfied, the provision of health services alone cannot save lives. Community participation is essential, and community participation implies bolstering the assets and capacities of the beneficiaries.

Keywords

coordinationdiseasehealth carehumanitarian assistanceinternal displacementinternally displaced personsmortalitypublic healthwarWorld Health Organization
Type
Special Reports
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , September 2001 , pp. 116 - 123
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. At the request of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council is developing a database of information to track the numbers and needs of internally displaced populations.Google Scholar
2. IRC: Mortality in Eastern DRC-Results from Five Mortality Studies. Prepared by Roberts, Les, IRC Health Unit, 2000.Google Scholar
3. EHA consultation with donors and collaborating agencies on the role of World Health Organization in complex emergencies, Geneva, March 1997Google Scholar
4. OCHA: Handbook for Applying the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, Geneva, World Health Organization.Google Scholar
5. OCHA, Handbook for Applying the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, Geneva, World Health Organization. (p 6).Google Scholar
6. IFRC: World Disasters Report, 2000.Google Scholar
7. Norwegian Refugee Council Internally Displaced Persons Database. At the request of the Inter-agency Standing Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council is developing a database of information to track the numbers and needs of internally displaced populations (http://www.idpproject.org/).Google Scholar
8. Save the Children: War Brought Us Here, 2000.Google Scholar
9. Kunder, J: The U.S. Government and Internally Displaced Persons: Present but Not Accounted For. US Committee for Refugees, The Brookings Institution Project on Internal Displacement, November 1999.Google Scholar
10. Lavoyer, JP: Refugees and internally displaced persons: International humanitarian law and the role of ICRC, ICRC, 1 March 1995.Google Scholar
11. Personal observation, Mozambique 1988. Also in Geffray, R 1990 and Wilson, K, 1991.Google Scholar
12. IRC: Mortality in Eastern DRC-Results from Five Mortality Studies. Prepared by Roberts, Les, IRC Health Unit, 2000.Google Scholar
13. Toole, M: Twelve Lessons for Public Health in Emergencies. Presented at FICOSSER, Paris 1999.Google Scholar
14. Outbreak of poliomyelitis – Angola 1999, MMWR 1999;48(16): 327–329.Google Scholar
15. Munoz, Fabio Rivas, personal communication, June 2000.Google Scholar
16. PAHO: Basic Country Health Profiles for the Americas, Summaries, 1999.Google Scholar
17. World Health Organization/FCH: A health sector strategy for reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality by World Health Organization and partners. January 2000.Google Scholar
18. Wolrd Health Organization/CDS: Partnership Meeting on Roll Back Malaria in Complex Emergencies, Geneva, June 2000Google Scholar
19. Inter-Agency Standing Committee-Sub-working group on HIV/AIDS in Complex Emergencies: Controlling the Spread of HIV/AIDS in Complex Emergencies in Africa. Geneva, May 2000Google Scholar
20. Planning Ahead for the Health Impact of Complex Emergencies, Draft Discussion Paper World Health Organization/EHA, 8 Dec 1999.Google Scholar
21. World Health Organization/EHA: Emergency and Humanitarian Action—Disasters, Emergencies and World Health Organization; paper presented at the Second Meeting of the Global Programme Management Group: Geneva, 17 March 2000.Google Scholar
22. Rufin, JC: Les economies de guerre dans les conflits de faible intensite, Defense nationale 1993.Google Scholar
23. WFP/IDP Review: Experiences with Internal Displacement. WFP, Geneva 16 March 2000.Google Scholar
24. EHA consultation with donors and collaborating agencies on the role of World Health Organization in complex emergencies, Geneva, March 1997Google Scholar
25. The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response. First final edition 2000.Google Scholar
26. University of Wisconsin – Disaster Management Center: First International Emergency Settlement Conference: New Approaches to New Realities, Emergency Settlements' April 1996.Google Scholar
27. World Health Organization: HEDIP-Health and Development for Displaced Populations, Emergency Relief Operations, 1993.Google Scholar
28. Perrin, P: War and public health: Extending the concept of public health for the victims of armed conflict. Health in Emergencies, Issue 3, EHA/World Health Organization, 1998.Google Scholar
29. World Health Organization/EHA: EHA Inter-Regional Retreat, Neemrana Fort Palace, 28 February-2 March 2000., April 2000.Google Scholar
30. Bhatt, M, Reddick, M: Retrospective Model for Orissa Learning Office-Issues Raised and Lessons Learnt. Draft report for discussion at ALNAP meeting, London 6-7 April 2000.Google Scholar
31. Pavignani, E, Colombo, S: Health as a Bridge for Peace. National Health Systems and Protracted Humanitarian Emergencies. Preliminary Findings from a Comparative Study on Angola and Mozambique. World Health Organization/EHA, Geneva, June 2000.Google Scholar