PROTRACTED INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT IN EUROPE: CURRENT TRENDS AND WAYS FORWARD

Norwegian Refugee Council
Aug 21, 2009

IDMC Report:

Around two and a half million internally displaced people in Europe
are still unable to lead normal lives. The report "Protracted Internal
Displacement in Europe: Current Trends and Ways Forward" describes
the issues facing people internally displaced by conflict and violence
in the region and provides recommendations to improve heir situation.

Some 2.5 million people are internally displaced in Europe in
2009. They are in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, the Russian Federation,
Serbia and Turkey.

Most fled their homes more than 15 years ago as a result of violence
and armed conflict, and are living in situations of protracted
displacement. Over time, many have become marginalised and have been
unable to improve their situation.

While the vulnerabilities of these internally displaced people (IDPs)
are sometimes the same as the local population, many IDPs still
need assistance to overcome problems related to their displacement,
concerning housing, jobs, documents and property, as well as access
to psychosocial support.