Internal Displacement Unit

At least 25 million people spread over 52 countries are displaced by violence and persecution but remain within the borders of their own countries. While the primary responsibility for protecting and assisting IDPs rests with States, the scope and complexity of this contemporary phenomenon requires the concerted action of a wide range of humanitarian, development and political actors. 

Pursuant to a decision of the Secretary General, the Internal Displacement Unit was established within the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Unit is directed by Mr. Kofi Asomani, and consists of international staff seconded by the UNDP, UNHCR, WFP, OCHA, UNICEF, IOM, NGO community and the RSG on IDPs. Its establishment was preceded by extensive consultations amongst members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and Senior Network on Internal Displacement.

(à About Us)

The main objective of the Unit is to promote system wide improvements in the response to the needs of the internally displaced people (IDPs) as well as to provide targeted support to specific country situations. Main areas of work focus on protection of IDPs, field support, capacity building/ training and advocacy/ public information.

(à   Priorities and Initiatives) 

In achieving these objectives, the Unit assists the ERC in discharging his function to coordinate an effective response to the needs of the internally displaced people (IDPs) worldwide. The Unit supports field response in IDP crises as implemented by IASC members and OCHA under the leadership of Resident and Humanitarian Coordinators, in the context of an inter- agency collaborative approach.

(à Partners)