Tufts: 'Internal Displacement to Urban Areas: the Tufts-IDMC Profiling Study, Khartoum, Sudan'

In many conflict zones today, the targeting and uprooting of rural populations and their forced displacement is an integral part of the war strategies of rebel or government forces.

Notable recent examples include Sudan, northern Uganda, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Burma and Somalia. Many of these displaced people flee across borders to become refugees, but even more become internally displaced and a large and growing proportion migrate to the urban areas and particularly the capital of their own countries. Unlike IDPs in camps who are more easily identified and assisted, IDPs in urban areas comprise a hidden population, and aid agencies and governments have difficulty identifying them and understanding their experience relative to the urban population amongst whom they live. Relatively little is known about their precise numbers, demographics, basic needs and protection problems. Donor governments and humanitarian organizations have recognized this information gap, and in 2006, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (an arm of the Norwegian Refugee Council) commissioned the Feinstein International Center to conduct a research study that would address this gap.
The study had three main objectives: to develop generic research tools to be used for profiling urban IDPs, including to make population estimates; to generate comparative data on IDPs and non-IDPs in urban areas—including demographic and livelihood characteristics, access to services, economic integration, and whether the assistance and protection needs of IDPs differ from that of non-IDPs; To use the data to work with governments and humanitarian organizations to develop programs and advocacy strategies that assist IDPs and protect their rights.

The study took place from 2006-2008, in three urban locations: Khartoum, Sudan; Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire; and Santa Marta, Colombia. Surveys were conducted in each city, and the outcome was a tested profiling tool, a full report, and three case studies.
Access this report from Tufts