U N I T E D N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

GLOBAL: IDP agreement ''a very positive step forward''

NEW YORK, 19 April (IRIN) - The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator,
Kenzo Oshima, and the Representative of the Secretary-General on Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs), Francis Deng, on Wednesday signed a memorandum of
understanding in New York to improve UN efforts to respond to the severe
crisis of internal displacement around the world, the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Thursday.

"This is a very positive step forward," Phyllis Lee, head of the advocacy
and external relations section of OCHA, told IRIN on Friday.

Under the agreement, the two units will jointly design and develop
strategies for the promotion, dissemination and application of guiding
principles on internal displacement, OCHA reported. They will coordinate
field visits to maximise impact, build upon each other's findings, and
ensure meaningful follow-up action. The two units will collaborate in the
development of policy and research on IDP issues and in the planning of
joint activities, such as seminars, to identify best practices and areas for
further application of the guiding principles. OCHA's IDP Unit and Deng will
also undertake joint advocacy activities to further raise the awareness of
the international community of the plight of millions of IDPs and their
urgent need for protection and assistance.

It is estimated that some 20-25 million people have been displaced within
their own countries as a result of armed conflict. Natural disasters have
displaced another 25 million. "Because they are not covered by the same
legal regime and assistance programmes that benefit refugees, these
populations require the support of the international community to meet their
urgent humanitarian needs," OCHA stated.

[ENDS]

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