When we think about displacement, many of us picture refugees crossing borders in search of safety. But displacement can also happen within one’s own country. There are millions of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the world, yet their stories often remain untold.
Nurto Ali is a mother of nine from rural Galgadud, Somalia.
“When the drought hit, we lost everything,” Nurto recalls. “Our animals died one by one. Without livestock, we had no choice but to leave.”
Every year, millions of people are displaced within the borders of their own country, because of conflict, violence, disasters, or the growing impacts of climate change. Unlike refugees, IDPs do not cross an international border, which means they remain under the protection of their own governments. However, the governments are often unable or, in some cases, unwilling to meet their needs.
Nurto now lives in Kaam Ajuran IDP camp, on the outskirts of Guriel town. When she first arrived, she had no income, no support system, and no shelter. She built a makeshift home from scraps: sticks, tattered fabric, plastic sheeting, anything she could find.
“Our previous shelter couldn’t protect us from the sun or rain,” Nurto says. “During heavy rains, it would leak, and during the hot season, it was unbearable.”
How data helps us reach people
The Norwegian Refugee Council assists millions of internally displaced people every year, in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia and Afghanistan. One invaluable resource at our disposal is the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), which is part of NRC. IDMC is the world’s leading source of data analysis on internal displacement.
Based in Geneva, IDMC works to make displacement crises visible by tracking how many people are displaced, why, and for how long.
“Behind every number is a person who has lost their home, their community, and often much more. Internal displacement can last for years, even decades, and is linked to poverty, insecurity, and stalled development. Yet many of these situations never make the news. By gathering reliable data, IDMC helps governments and aid organisations understand and respond to displacement more effectively,” says Alexandra Bilak, Director of IDMC.
Nurto Ali is a mother of nine from rural Galgadud, Somalia.
“When the drought hit, we lost everything,” Nurto recalls. “Our animals died one by one. Without livestock, we had no choice but to leave.”
Every year, millions of people are displaced within the borders of their own country, because of conflict, violence, disasters, or the growing impacts of climate change. Unlike refugees, IDPs do not cross an international border, which means they remain under the protection of their own governments. However, the governments are often unable or, in some cases, unwilling to meet their needs.
Nurto now lives in Kaam Ajuran IDP camp, on the outskirts of Guriel town. When she first arrived, she had no income, no support system, and no shelter. She built a makeshift home from scraps: sticks, tattered fabric, plastic sheeting, anything she could find.
“Our previous shelter couldn’t protect us from the sun or rain,” Nurto says. “During heavy rains, it would leak, and during the hot season, it was unbearable.”
How data helps us reach people
The Norwegian Refugee Council assists millions of internally displaced people every year, in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia and Afghanistan. One invaluable resource at our disposal is the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), which is part of NRC. IDMC is the world’s leading source of data analysis on internal displacement.
Based in Geneva, IDMC works to make displacement crises visible by tracking how many people are displaced, why, and for how long.
“Behind every number is a person who has lost their home, their community, and often much more. Internal displacement can last for years, even decades, and is linked to poverty, insecurity, and stalled development. Yet many of these situations never make the news. By gathering reliable data, IDMC helps governments and aid organisations understand and respond to displacement more effectively,” says Alexandra Bilak, Director of IDMC.
In 2024, the number of IDPs surpassed 80 million people. This is the first time in recorded history that this has happened.
Somalia's enduring displacement crisis
Three decades of conflict, combined with severe droughts and food shortages, have made Somalia home to one of the world's largest populations of internally displaced people. By the end of 2024, nearly four million people had been forced from their homes while remaining within the country's borders. This includes over 3.1 million people displaced by conflict and another 733,000 displaced by natural disasters, placing Somalia seventh globally for the highest number of internally displaced people.
Did you know? In addition to being a humanitarian concern, internal displacement is also a human rights issue. Internally displaced people have the same rights as anyone else in their country. According to the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, they are entitled to safety, dignity, and access to basic services. Yet in reality, these rights are often denied or overlooked.
Whether living in tented settlements or scattered across big cities, internally displaced people make up 42 per cent of those NRC assists worldwide. Our teams reach some of the largest IDP populations globally, including in Somalia where we supported 626,815 people last year. Among them was Nurto, whose situation changed after receiving materials to build a stronger, safer shelter.
“This new house has changed our lives,” she says. “Now, my children can sleep peacefully without fear of rain or the scorching sun. We finally feel safe and settled.”
“What we need now is more support to start small businesses or find ways to earn income. We want to be able to stand on our own again.”
Learn more about internal displacement at www.internal-displacement.org