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