Abstract

Individuals are being displaced all over the world due to several factors. Internal displacement is a phenomenon in which individuals are forced to leave their homes but remain within the borders of their countries. The key element that distinguishes IDPs from refugees, those who are forcibly displaced across the internationally recognized borders of the State, is that internally displaced persons remain within their borders (World Bank, 1994). Internal displacement occurs when there are situations such as armed conflict, persecution, widespread outbreaks of violence, natural and human disasters and, more recently, large-scale development projects (Mooney, 2005). Internally displaced persons are persons who have been forced to leave their homes for various reasons but have not crossed international borders. They are often persecuted or attacked by their governments or other enemies who supposedly are more powerful than the original inhabitants, often the IDPs are in a more desperate situation than refugees. The number of displaced persons doubles the number of refugees. They are at the forefront of the humanitarian agenda. They are also known as "internal refugees" (Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2007).