OCHA Situation Report
Central/East Africa:  Displaced Populations
Report for January - June 2007
3 October 2007


Major Findings

By mid-2007, the IDP population in the CEA region is estimated to be 
8,891,438 people, compared to 9,982,921 IDPs registered at the end of 
2006 (1). Djibouti, Tanzania and Rwanda maintained the status of 
officially having no IDPs, save for temporary displacements as result of 
climatic conditions like flooding. In Kenya and Ethiopia there are no 
official published reports on the status or statistics of IDPs hence the 
estimated range of figures. New displacements as a result of ethnic 
conflicts were how-ever noted in both countries during the first half of 
2007 (2).

The IDP dynamics in 2007 represent a mixed trend of both new large scale
displacements and large returnee operations (3). An estimated 1,680,214
returnees were recorded in several parts of the region by mid 2007 (4).
Conversely, cross-border raids and displacements from Darfur in early 2007
resulted in new displacements of over 65,000 in CAR and 59,973 in Chad. Of
the current 2.2 million IDPs in Darfur, 248,414 are new displacements since
January 2007.

The refugee situation has seen a slight increase of about 64,472 refugees
recorded mostly in Sudan, following influxes from Chad and Eritrea. By
June 2007, there were an estimated 2,031,791 refugees in the region
compared to 1,967,319 refugees recorded by UNHCR at the end of December
2006 (5).

In addition to on-going armed conflict, generalised insecurity and 
States' incapacity to handle human rights violations by both state and 
non-state actors, extreme weather conditions such as floods and droughts 
have been responsible for temporary displacements in several parts of 
the CEA region.

Challenges to accurate IDP Tracking in the region include increased 
levels of insecurity hence poor or no access to affected populations, 
lack of acknowledgement by governments of the presence of IDPs on their 
territory hence poor or no monitoring, in addition to the complications 
created by the temporary nature of some of the displacements.

Notes

(1) According to the 2006 IDMC Global Survey Report, Kenya had a 
protracted estimate of 85,000-431,000 IDPs, while the estimate for 
Ethiopia ranged between 100,000-280,000 IDPs at the end of 2006. In 
2007, the current estimates indicate a range of between 250,000-365,000 
IDPs for Kenya and 100,000-280,000 IDPs in Ethiopia. In calculating the 
total IDP statistics for the region, the upper range for these countries 
has been employed.

(2) An additional 70,000 new displacements were recorded in Mt. Elgon 
District of Kenya in 2007, while the estimated operational figure for 
humanitarian actors in Ethiopia remains at 200,000 IDPs in 2007. The 
displacement situation in Ogaden region remains unknown .

(3) Four IDP Repatriation Programmes to South Sudan were initiated by 
UNHCR in early 2007, i.e. from Northern Sudan to Southern Sudan; from 
South Darfur to Northern Bahr El-Ghazal State; from Wau County (Western 
Bahr el-Ghazal State) to Warrap State and to Lakes State; and from the 
Equatoria states to Jonglei State as well as within the Equatoria 
states.

(4) Sudan-1,325,535; Uganda-200,000; Burundi-10,000; DRC-21,979; 
Eritrea-31,000; RoC-92,200

(5) UNHCR 2007 Global Survey Report The refugee situation has seen a 
slight increase of about 64,472 refugees recorded mostly in Sudan, 
following influxes from Chad and Eritrea. By June 2007, there were an 
estimated 2,031,791 refugees in the region compared to 1,967,319 
refugees recorded by UNHCR at the end of December 20065. In addition to 
on-going armed con-flict, generalised insecurity and States' incapacity 
to handle human rights violations by both state and non-state actors, 
extreme weather conditions such as floods and droughts have been 
responsible for temporary displacements in several parts of the CEA 
region. Challenges to accurate IDP Tracking in the region include 
increased levels of insecurity hence poor or no access to affected 
populations, lack of acknowledgement by governments of the presence of 
IDPs on their territory hence poor or no monitoring, in addition to the 
complications created by the temporary nature of some of the 
displacements.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=15DF26EAEC2F8330C125736900466A15&file=Full_Report.pdf

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