This is the VOA SpecialEnglish Development Report.
The word “refugee” describes a person who flees his or her owncountry because of violence, natural tragedies or politicalproblems. However, many people do not know about “internallydisplaced persons” or I-D-P’s. I-D-P’s are driven from their homesfor the same reasons as refugees. Yet, they do not leave theirnative countries or cross international borders.
The United States Committee forRefugees estimates there are about fifteen-million refugees aroundthe world. The number of internally displaced persons is muchhigher, as many as twenty-five-million. Supporters of these homelessvictims are trying to increase public knowledge about their problem.
When large numbers of refugees cross into other countries, theirarrival usually results in large amounts of international aid. Thereceiving country will often ask the United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees for help in the emergency. Other U-Nagencies and the International Red Cross may also be asked to help.These relief groups help set up camps, hand out food and giveemergency health care to victims.
Yet, it is often difficult for relief organizations to helpI-D-P’s. Their crisis rarely gets international consideration. Thevictims often go unprotected and receive little help becauseinternational refugee laws do not apply to them. In fact, sometimesgovernments try to keep aid agencies out because they do not want toshow any weakness.
The Global I-D-P Project estimates about four-million internallydisplaced people live in both Angola and Sudan. There are abouttwo-million I-D-P’s in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In theAmericas, Colombia has the most displaced people with more thetwo-million. Indonesia leads the list for Asia with as many astwo-million I-D-P’s.
In Nineteen-Fifty-One, the United Nations Refugee Conventionclearly defined refugees and demanded that they be protected. Thereis no similar document defining internally displaced people. The U-Nhas released a guide that describes how I-D-P’s should be treated.The document offers a set of rules for governments andnon-governmental organizations to follow in their efforts to helpdisplaced people. Yet, countries are not required to follow them.International aid organizations hope this changes soon.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by JillMoss.