Internal Displacement 2020: Mid-year Update

Internal displacement is one of today’s major humanitarian and development challenges. This report provides a mid-year overview of all the new displacements triggered by conflict, violence and disasters in the first half of 2020.  

We recorded 14.6 million new displacements across 127 countries and territories between 1 January and 30 June 2020. Conflict and violence triggered 4.8 million new displacements, primarily in Africa and the Middle East, a million more than in the first half of 2019. The greatest increases were in Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burkina Faso. Sudden and slow-onset disasters triggered 9.8 million new displacements in the first half of 2020. Cyclone Amphan, which led to the pre-emptive evacuation of 3.3 million people in India and Bangladesh, was the largest event. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has had serious implications for countries and communities worldwide, including on internally displaced people (IDPs). Lack of accurate and timely data has limited our full understanding of the impact on IDPs and host communities, however, it is already clear that it has heightened their vulnerabilities and poses new risks. These include increased poverty and food insecurity, lack of social support and greater exposure to health risks.