Fewer internal displacements in Africa

Friday, 16 July 2010

Internally displaced children carry water in Juba, Sudan

While internal displacements continue to rise in the world at large, Africa has seen a slow but marked decrease in the number of internal "refugees" during the last decade. Africa has become more peaceful.

This is one of the conclusions in a 2001-09 overview of internally displaced persons due to conflict and violence, made available to afrol News today by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The numbers reflect an impression of an African continent that has become more peaceful during the last decade, with many of its principal wars and civil wars ending or being scaled down.

While most countries hosting a major number of internally displaced persons in 2001 saw a big reduction in numbers, a few new centres of crisis however have emerged, as the NRC compilation shows. In Africa, Sudan and Somalia topped the list, with numbers strongly increasing in Somalia during the period. In most Africa countries affected by conflict, the compilation however is positive reading. Especially in West Africa, the numbers of internally displaced persons was drastically reduced.

For the full story, visit afrol News.