during the same period.(33) In all, UNHCR statistics include IDP populations in 22 countries (see Annex table 6). Colombia, which began registering IDPs in 1997, now has a total of 3.3 million registered IDPs.(34) Renewed armed conflict in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo displaced hundreds of thousands during the year; by end 2009, the number of IDPs was estimated at 2.1 million. Extensive new internal displacement (up to 3 million people) was witnessed in Pakistan in mid-2009 due to the humanitarian situation in the north-west of the country. Although an estimated 1.1 million of these IDPs were able to return home in 2009, some 1.9 million remained displaced within Pakistan by year end. The political and humanitarian situation in central and south Somalia continued to deteriorate in 2009, and led to the displacement of some 300,000 people. As a consequence, the number of IDPs in Somalia increased to 1.55 million by year end. In Sudan, the number of IDPs protected or assisted by UNHCR was approximately one million by the end of the year. Extensive new internal displacements were also witnessed in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka,(35) and Yemen during 2009. In Iraq, the IDP estimate was revised downwards from 2.6 to 1.55 million people. This figure excludes the pre-2003 IDPs in Iraq which are now considered to be integrated. In addition, close to 168,000 Iraqi IDPs returned to their homes during 2009. Some 408,000 IDPs in Uganda were also able to return to their villages in the course of the year, reducing the IDP population remaining in camps and transit sites to 446,000. Both IDPs and IDP returnees in Uganda continue to benefit from UNHCR’s protection and assistance activities under the cluster approach. VIII. Stateless persons Unlike refugees, stateless persons in most countries are not registered and granted a legal status and documentation. Although surveys carried out in some countries are starting to yield more reliable data on stateless persons, information about the global magnitude of the statelessness phenomenon remains incomplete. At the same time, identifying stateless persons and the scope of the problem in any given country is a necessary step in designing efforts to address statelessness situations through advocacy and targeted programmes. In recognition of this, the identification of stateless populations and improving the understanding of the scope of statelessness are among the tasks UNHCR has been called upon by its Executive Committee to prioritize under its statelessness mandate. Fig 12 Number of countries reporting statistics on stateless persons | 2004-2009 48 49 2005 2006 54 58 60 2008 2009 30 2004 2007 The statistics in this report only include data on countries for which reliable official statistics or estimates of stateless populations are available. Annex table 7 also includes some countries (marked with an asterisk) that have significant stateless populations but for which no reliable figures could be provided, including Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, India and Indonesia. 33 In the absence of reliable estimates on newly displaced persons during 2009, this figure excludes movements in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 34 It is important to note that the figure of 3.3 million is an accummulated figure dating back to 1997 and that the Government has highlighted an under-registration of 21 per cent (see report by the National Government to the Constitutional Court, Judgement T025/2004). The Government also estimates that some 500,000 people have returned, but no official figures are available as yet. 35 In Sri Lanka, a substantial number of IDPs were able to return voluntarily to their areas of origin by year end. 2009 Global Trends 21