CHAPTER 4 Figure 15 | Ten largest IDP populations Colombia Syrian Arab Rep. Iraq DR of the Congo Sudan Nigeria Yemen South Sudan Ukraine Afghanistan 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IDP population (millions) end-2015 The unpredictability of the situation was seen in the large number of both new displacements and IDP returns in 2016. Many returns took place in precarious conditions, with land and property often occupied, confiscated, or destroyed, reducing the resilience mechanisms of affected individuals and communities. Sudan experienced a significant reduction in the IDP population during 2016, although the humanitarian situation remained serious. Nearly all IDPs were living in the south and west of the country, mostly in Darfur. Some 2.2 million people remained internally displaced in Sudan at the end of 2016, making this the fifth-largest IDP population. Other countries where an IDP population of over 1 million was reported at the end of 2016 included Nigeria (2.2 million), Yemen (2.0 million), South Sudan (1.9 million), Ukraine (1.8 million), Afghanistan (1.8 million), 51 and Somalia (1.6 million). IDP returns were reported at 6.5 million, compared with 2.3 million reported in 2015 and more than the number of new displacements (Figure 16). This was the highest number on record and the first time since 2011 that new displacements were less than returns. However, many of these returns took place in hazardous security situations and did not always indicate an improvement in conditions in the areas concerned. For example, in Iraq, IDPs returned to eastern Mosul even while fighting in the western parts of the city continued to displace more people. UNHCR > GLOBAL TRENDS 2016 Iraq had the highest number of returns with 1.4 million followed by Yemen (974,100) and South Sudan (752,300). In both Yemen and South Sudan, prolonged hostilities and worsening conditions in host communities compelled many displaced to return despite danger and insecurity. Other countries with significant numbers of IDP returns were Pakistan (704,400), Nigeria (689,900), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (619,600), Syria (600,000), Libya (449,800), the Philippines (255,600), and Mali (36,000). 51 The figures for protracted internal displacement in Afghanistan (1.2 million) are being reviewed through field verification, and adjustments are expected. Figure 16 | IDP new displacements and returns | 2006-2016 IDP population (millions) end-2016 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 06 07 08 09 New displacements 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Returns 37