Children Beyond Our Borders

Internally displaced persons or IDPs are individuals or groups of people who have fled their homes as a result of armed conflict within the region, generalized violence, and/or abuse. The UN estimates that around 24.5 million IDPs exist in 52 countries, half of them residing in Africa. Not surprisingly, most IDPs are women and children—outcasted civilians with limited legal and physical protection from the government. 

IDPs aren’t just victims of armed conflicts, but of natural disasters, development projects, and human right’s abuses.  If they cross the country’s border into another country they are classified as refugees. An interesting note to make is that refugees are more easily provided shelter and food because they are protected by a large international governing body like the UN; however, since IDPs remain in their own country, they are often unable to receive the same “benefits” afforded to refugees by large organizations like the UN.  Legally, they are still under the protection of their home government.