Regional Displacement Summary
At the end of September 2009, there were 10,188,709 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 10 out of 18 countries in the East and Central Africa region. This represents a net increase of 1,084,383 IDPs within the last six months.
Countries with ongoing massive internal displacements include the Democratic Republic of Congo (2.12 million), Sudan (4 million) and Somalia (1.55 million). The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded a net increase of over 779,000 new IDPs in the last six months as a result of renewed violence, especially in North and South Kivu provinces.
On refugees, of the 18 countries under CEA coverage, 16 countries reported a combined total of 1,875,379 refugees at end of September 2009, a net increase of 5,061 refugees since March 2009. Chad, Kenya, Sudan and Tanzania continue to host the highest number of refugees, with each having over 250,000 refugees at the end of September 2009. The combined displaced population—IDPs and Refugees—in the CEA region stands at 11,930,704 as at 30 September 2009.
Key Developments
- The escalation of the conflict in south central Somalia has significantly contributed to the increase in the number of displaced persons (both refugees—particularly to Kenya—and IDPs) in the region during the reporting period. An estimated 250,000 people were displaced from Mogadishu alone by fighting between the Transitional Federal Government and various militias in May 2009.
- Sudan continued to experience intermittent clashes especially in the south and in Darfur, ahead of the planned elections under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and referendum on the future status of the south. On -going violent attacks by suspected members of the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have contributed to an increase in the number of refugees from DRC and the Central African Republic into Sudan and also resulted in massive internal displacement within South Sudan.
- In Kenya, the Government proclaimed the closure of all IDP camps hosting persons affected by the post December 2007 election violence as of 25 September 2009. Many of those displaced by the post-election violence have since moved out of the IDP camps into transit sites.
- In Tanzania, the local integration/naturalization of Burundian and Somali refugees has significantly reduced the refugee caseload in the country. Sudan and Tanzania now host an equal of refugees, with current figures for both standing at 273,601 and 274,658 respectively.
