Chapter 4 Figure 12 | Ten largest IDP populations Colombia Syrian Arab Rep. Dem. Rep. of the Congo Iraq Somalia Yemen Sudan South Sudan Afghanistan Ukraine 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 IDP population (millions) At the same time, some 4.2 million IDPs returned to their areas of origin, and the IDP population decreased by another 4.0 million for other reasons such as crossing an international border to become a refugee or due to statistical adjustments. The 4.2 million IDP returns in 2017 was lower than 2016 (6.5 million) but considerably higher than 2015 (2.3 million) [Figure 13]. Of these returns, nearly 1.7 million took place with UNHCR assistance. Iraq had the highest number of IDP returns (1.5 million), followed by Syria (597,200), Sudan (386,200), Nigeria (381,800), the Philippines (318,500), and Pakistan (281,600). The security situation in many of these countries remained hazardous, and thus the returns are not always indicative of durable solutions for displaced populations that remained at risk of further displacement. For example, in Iraq in November 2017, UNHCR reported that 25 per cent of families returning home from camps east of Mosul were returning to territories with ongoing conflict. Many 45 See: http://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0984984.html. unhcr > Global trends 2017 8 end-2016 end-2017 families indicated that they hastened their return, fearing that they could be barred from returning to their villages later on. At the same time in Zummar (Ninewa governorate), where 21,600 people (3,600 families) had reportedly returned in October 2017, some families had not been to their villages for over three years and had no information on the condition of their property, basic services available in the area, or livelihood opportunities prior to returning. 45 ■ Figure 13 | IDP new displacements and returns | 2007-2017 IDP population (millions) by the Government to exert control over towns held by militant groups, the launch of a large-scale offensive in northern rural Hama by non-State armed opposition groups, and the situation in Al-Waer and offensive of the Syrian army against militant groups in Ar-Raqqa governorate. The highest movements in terms of IDP arrivals were recorded in Idleb, Aleppo, and Ar-Raqqa. 7 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10 New displacements ‘11 ‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16 ‘17 Returns 35