The Neglected Health Crisis: Internally Displaced People and Their Struggles

The world is witnessing an alarming rise in displacement due to conflicts, natural disasters, and economic crises. While cross-border refugees often garner international attention and aid, internally displaced persons (IDPs)—people forced to flee their homes but remain within their own country—are frequently overlooked.

Internally displaced people face severe health challenges, including malnutrition, infectious diseases, lack of medical care, and mental health disorders. Their plight represents a global health crisis that demands urgent action. This article explores the health risks faced by IDPs, the gaps in healthcare access, and the necessary steps to address this neglected crisis.

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Understanding Internal Displacement

1. Who Are Internally Displaced People (IDPs)?

IDPs are individuals or groups forced to leave their homes due to:

• Armed conflicts and violence (e.g., civil wars, ethnic conflicts)

• Natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, floods, cyclones)

• Human rights violations (e.g., forced evictions, persecution)

• Climate change-related disasters (e.g., rising sea levels, droughts)

Unlike refugees, IDPs do not cross international borders and often remain under the jurisdiction of their national governments, which may lack the resources or willingness to provide adequate assistance.

2. Global Statistics on IDPs

• As of 2023, there were 71.1 million IDPs worldwide, compared to 36.4 million refugees who crossed international borders.

• The highest numbers of IDPs are found in Syria, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Yemen.

• More than 60% of IDPs live in urban settings without access to proper healthcare and sanitation.

Despite their numbers, IDPs often remain invisible in global policy discussions, with insufficient humanitarian aid and inadequate healthcare services.

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Health Challenges Faced by Internally Displaced People

1. Lack of Access to Medical Care

• Many IDPs live in makeshift camps or urban slums, far from hospitals and clinics.

• National health systems in conflict-affected areas are often overwhelmed, leaving IDPs without essential services.

• Women, children, and elderly IDPs face higher risks of maternal health complications, malnutrition, and chronic illnesses.

2. Infectious Disease Outbreaks

• Overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in displacement camps increase the spread of cholera, tuberculosis, malaria, and COVID-19.

• Limited access to clean water and sanitation leads to outbreaks of diarrheal diseases.

• In war-torn regions, lack of vaccination programs exposes IDP children to measles, polio, and other preventable diseases.

3. Mental Health Crisis

• Displacement leads to extreme psychological distress, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

• The loss of homes, livelihoods, and loved ones contributes to high suicide rates and substance abuse.

• Mental health services for IDPs are scarce, and cultural stigma often prevents people from seeking help.

4. Malnutrition and Food Insecurity

• IDPs often lose their land and income, making it difficult to afford nutritious food.

• In some displacement settings, food aid is irregular or insufficient, leading to hunger and malnutrition, especially among children.

• Malnourished individuals are more vulnerable to infections, creating a vicious cycle of illness and poor health.

5. Maternal and Child Health Risks

• Pregnant women in IDP camps often lack access to prenatal care, skilled birth attendants, and emergency obstetric services.

• High rates of infant mortality occur due to premature births, infections, and inadequate postnatal care.

• Limited access to contraceptives and reproductive health services increases the risk of unsafe abortions and maternal deaths.

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Why Are IDPs Overlooked in Global Health Responses?

1. Absence of International Protection

Unlike refugees, who receive protection under the UN Refugee Convention, IDPs remain under the control of their national governments. This often results in neglect or even deliberate marginalization by authorities.

2. Limited Humanitarian Aid

• Many international organizations focus on refugee crises, leaving IDP populations underfunded.

• Governments may restrict aid access, preventing NGOs from providing critical healthcare support.

• IDP camps often lack international oversight, making it difficult to monitor human rights violations.

3. Political Sensitivities

• Governments may deny the existence of IDPs to avoid accountability.

• In conflict zones, providing healthcare to IDPs can be politicized, leading to inadequate services.

4. Poor Data Collection

• Many IDPs live outside official camps, making it difficult to track their numbers and health needs.

• Incomplete or unreliable data prevents effective health interventions and funding allocation.

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Steps to Improve Healthcare for Internally Displaced People

1. Strengthening National Health Systems

• Governments must integrate IDP healthcare into national health policies.

• Expanding mobile clinics and telemedicine can help reach displaced populations in remote areas.

• Training local healthcare workers to respond to IDP health crises effectively.

2. Increasing International Support and Funding

• The United Nations and WHO should allocate more funds to IDP healthcare programs.

• Encouraging partnerships between governments, NGOs, and private donors can improve service delivery.

• Strengthening data collection and reporting to ensure accountability in aid distribution.

3. Improving Sanitation and Disease Prevention Measures

• Providing safe drinking water, hygiene kits, and proper waste management in IDP settlements.

• Ensuring mass vaccination campaigns to prevent infectious disease outbreaks.

• Distributing mosquito nets and malaria prevention tools in affected regions.

4. Addressing Mental Health Needs

• Expanding psychosocial support services in IDP camps.

• Training local counselors and community leaders to offer mental health first aid.

• Conducting awareness campaigns to reduce stigma around seeking mental health support.

5. Ensuring Maternal and Child Healthcare

• Deploying midwives and maternal health specialists to IDP settlements.

• Providing family planning and reproductive health education to displaced women.

• Implementing nutritional support programs for pregnant women and children.

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Conclusion: A Call for Urgent Action

The health crisis among internally displaced people is a neglected global emergency. Despite their dire needs, IDPs receive less attention and assistance than cross-border refugees. Urgent action is required from governments, international organizations, and civil society to ensure healthcare access, disease prevention, and mental health support for displaced populations.

Without immediate intervention, millions of IDPs will continue to suffer unimaginable health consequences. The world cannot afford to ignore them any longer—it is time for a global commitment to protecting the health and dignity of internally displaced people.