The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center reported that a record nearly 76 million people were displaced within their countries last year due to conflicts and natural disasters, with violence in Sudan, Congo, and the Middle East driving two-thirds of the new movement. The report indicated that the number of internally displaced people has increased by 50% over the past five years and doubled in the past decade. The report does not cover refugees who have fled to another country. The total displacement includes both physical movements in 2023 and the cumulative number of people who were living away from their homes at the end of the year. Approximately 75.9 million people were living in internal displacement at the end of last year, with half of them in sub-Saharan African countries.
Jan Egeland, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, expressed concern over the global crisis in internal displacement caused by violence, conflict, and persecution. Nearly 90% of the total displacement was attributed to conflict and violence, while around 10% was due to natural disasters. The displacement of more than 9 million people in Sudan at the end of 2023 was a record for a single country since the center began tracking such figures 16 years ago. The conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023 between the military leaders and the Rapid Support Forces, leading to widespread displacement across the country.
In Gaza, a total of 3.4 million movements were reported within the territory in the last quarter of 2023, following the Israeli military response to attacks on October 7. This figure indicates that many people moved more than once within Gaza. By the end of the year, 1.7 million people were still displaced in Gaza. The monitoring center’s director, Alexandra Bilak, described the millions of people forced to flee in 2023 as the “tip of the iceberg,” in addition to the tens of millions who have been displaced from earlier conflicts, violence, and disasters. These figures provide insight into the impact of conflict, climate change, and other factors on human displacement. While the U.N. refugee agency monitors displacement across borders, the U.N. migration agency tracks all movements of people, including for economic or lifestyle reasons.
Overall, the report highlights the significant increase in internal displacement due to conflicts and natural disasters, with millions of people forced to flee their homes in 2023. The numbers indicate a deep global crisis in internal displacement caused by violence, conflict, and persecution. The situation in Sudan, Gaza, and other countries reflects the devastating impact of ongoing conflicts and military responses on civilian populations. The need for humanitarian assistance and support for internally displaced persons is underscored by the record number of people living in internal displacement at the end of last year. Addressing the root causes of displacement, including conflict, violence, and natural disasters, is crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of affected populations.
