Chapter 3 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. Three Congolese girls play in the grounds of a church being used as a temporary site for internally displaced persons in Drodro, Ituri province. Some 1.3 million people have been displaced across eastern DRC during 2019 due to inter-ethnic violence between the Hema and Lendu. © U N H C R /J O H N W E S S E L S Pakistan, typhoons in the Philippines and at the end of the decade, hurricanes in the Bahamas and cyclones in Mozambique and southern Africa. Millions of people displaced by natural disasters were assisted by UNHCR during this decade. UNHCR’s updated Policy on Engagement in Situations of Internal Displacement 46 confirms that it will contribute to any inter-agency response to disaster-induced internal displacement where it is present, taking the lead on protection, and in agreement with the government and coordination arrangements. 46 See: https://www.unhcr.org/50f951df9 34 The demographics of internal displacement Displacement creates specific needs and vulnerabilities, especially where it exacerbates pre-existing vulnerabilities, discrimination, marginalization or barriers to access, such as for internally displaced children, older persons, persons with disabilities and persons with intersecting identities. Specific protection considerations, such as safeguarding from gender-based violence, abuse or exploitation of children, and issues of inclusion remained key due to the demographics of internal displacement. In 16 out of the 20 operations where demographic data is available at the end of 2019, women constituted on average 52 per cent of all IDPs. The highest values were UNHCR > GLOBAL TRENDS 2019