Protecting and supporting internally displaced children in urban settings

Highlights

• At the end of 2018 over 17 million children were internally displaced by conflict or violence, and millions more by disasters or other causes.
• Within a global context of increasing urbanization, towns and cities are becoming a major refuge for displaced populations, including children. The majority of the world’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) already live outside camps, with many fleeing to urban areas.
• Displaced children and their families in urban settings may find it difficult to access basic services, including housing, protection and education. The problem stems from discrimination and stigmatisation, lack of documentation, financial barriers, inadequate information about available services and difficulty navigating the systems.