This short article looks beyond the unprecedented number of internally displaced people reported by IDMC for 2023, addressing not only the data, but discussing the causes of displacement and the impact on these affected populations. In addition to providing statistics to build a foundation for understanding the scope of conflict displacement, the author addresses the specific factors which led to millions of individuals displaced from their homes and identifies the socioeconomic and demographic groups most impacted by displacement due to conflict and violence. With the understanding of the ‘why’ and ‘who’ of conflict and violence related internal displacement, the final aspect addressed is the experiences IDPs face, both the vulnerabilities and challenges. The author acknowledges the lack of data surrounding internal displacement with hopes to bridge knowledge gaps and provide policy makers, donors and practitioners with the information needed to design more impactful interventions moving forward.

This article unpacks Lebanon’s ongoing internal displacement crisis in light of the recent major escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah since September 2024. It highlights the severe humanitarian challenges faced by displaced Lebanese citizens, Syrian refugees, and Palestinian refugees. The government’s strategic disengagement from formally recognizing internally displaced persons (IDPs) has left displaced populations without access to essential protections and services. The lack of formal IDP status and the overwhelmed humanitarian response have compounded the crisis, with many displaced individuals relying on under-resourced NGOs. The article emphasises the long-term socio-economic, psychological, and infrastructural impacts of displacement on Lebanon’s vulnerable communities, warning that without government intervention, the crisis risks perpetuating instability and marginalisation for both the displaced populations and the country.

This short piece argues that the time is ripe for a broad strategic litigation initiative addressing both internal and cross-border displacement associated with disasters and climate change. Drawing on the new Climiglaw Database, currently in beta-version, the authors highlight legal cases which have progressed protections for people facing displacement. They also point to several other areas where strategic litigation holds the potential to advance human rights and protections including the rights of Indigenous Peoples, ‘the right to stay’ and legal remedies for a State’s failure to address the need for relocation. The authors and the organizations behind Climiglaw envisage this new case database as an important tool for empowering legal practitioners, academics, NGOs and wider civil society in these efforts.

The war in Ukraine, which began in 2022, has led to the internal displacement of an estimated 5 million individuals. Ukrainian IDPs are facing both the challenges of physically being forced from their homes to relocate elsewhere and the psychological challenges and mental health impact of residing in a conflict zone. This article discusses the importance of the mental health impact forced displacement plays in the compounding the trauma of Ukrainian IDPs. Highlighting how loss of identity and community as well as the disconnection from their loved ones leads to additional psychological strain, the authors address the stressors Ukrainian IDPs are facing while also identifying the key roles resilience and increased access to social support play in helping aid in mental health recovery.

In recent decades, Nigeria has experienced considerable levels of internal displacement, resulting from a combination of violent conflicts and environmental causes. Among the millions of IDPs in Nigeria, women and girls must endure several unique challenges, particularly a lack of access to adequate reproductive health services. While the Nigerian government has taken some steps to address the vulnerabilities of these women and girls, including protections from forced marriage and gender-based violence, the existing legal framework in Nigeria still fails to recognize and meet their reproductive healthcare needs. This article aims to stimulate further conversation on this important topic by introducing the reader to the reproductive health challenges of internally displaced women and girls in Nigeria and the gaps that remain unfilled by Nigerian authorities.

This piece argues that ‘planned relocation’ in the context of climate change should be viewed as a ‘displacement’ rather than as a form of voluntary movement. Moreover, because displacement is a form of loss and damage, it is also more appropriately addressed within the UNFCCC through the Loss and Damage mechanism rather than Adaptation. The author observes that glossing over the ’forced nature’ of climate-related relocations risks trivialising the adverse impacts of climate change on climate-venerable communities while also potentially diminishing polluter nation responsibility. This is problematic in terms of climate justice and could limit potential future legal and compensatory remedies for climate vulnerable communities relocating in the context of climate change.

In 2023, Afghanistan had one of the highest IDPs populations in the world due to factors such as years of war, conflict, and climate change impacts. This article assesses the impact that factors, such as housing and land accessibility challenges, lack of financial assistance and employment opportunities, have had on the ability and willingness of IDPs in Kabul to return. Utilizing research conducted through focus group discussions with IDPs residing within camps in Kabul city, the authors address barriers IDPs face in returning to their places of origin and highlight rights-based and needs-based approaches to reduce those challenges for those seeking return.

This short article argues that climate mobility policy and research need to confront the ways in which the category of ‘climate mobility’ is gaining institutionalized authority, possibly creating an enabling environment for new kinds of forced, unjust movement. The authors warn of an uncomfortable alignment emerging between the humanitarian impulse that has long shaped climate mobility research and policy - to move people out of climate harm’s way - and the capacity of states and private interests to justify moving people against their will in the name of climate adaptation and disaster prevention. This is one of the many reasons that the ‘right to stay’ and the recognition and respect of community agency are so profoundly important.