Highest-ever number of Internally Displaced People recorded worldwide

Angels Unawares by Timothy Schmalz

Source: Vatican News/Caritas

The annual World Day of Migrants and Refugees took place on Sunday. Addressing pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square for the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis had special greetings for migrants and refugees gathered there, and said he was praying for them and for all those who assist them.

The Holy Father then spoke about the new bronze sculpture in the Square, by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz, entitled 'Angels Unawares' and explained that in his Message for the World Day this year, he has highlighted the plight of Internally Displaced People whom, he said, "are forced to flee just like Jesus and his family. "

The Caritas confederation of Catholic charities worldwide has joined Pope Francis in echoing the cry of the world's internally displaced people (IDPs) for justice, dignified life and safe return home. Caritas is urging governments to provide unconditional access to basic services and a dignified and safe return home for all internally displaced people around the world.

Caritas Internationalis Secretary General, Aloysius John said: "On this special day, we want to echo their cry for justice by calling for immediate and timely action."

He said that throughout the world, Caritas has been in constant and direct contact with those living the dramatic situation of being displaced in their own countries. They are people left all on their own, deprived of conventional legal protection.

According to the Global Report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 45.7 million people were internally displaced as a result of conflict and disasters in 61 countries and territories around the world by the end of 2019.

John said: "This figure is the highest ever recorded… But despite the growing numbers and the urgency, until now..the dramatic situation of the IDPs was not adequately addressed on an international level."

He explained that unlike refugees, who are granted international protection, IDPs don't benefit from a high level of legal international protection, because they remain within the borders of their own countries.

John said: "They are victims of undemocratic political systems and environmental disorder which leads to hunger, war and violence." "They are among the most vulnerable people on the planet yet they are denied their basic right to live a dignified life."

IDP children, especially young girls, and women, he said, are even more vulnerable and are often objects of exploitation, abuse and sexual violence.

Caritas Internationalis noted that many situations of internal displacement have become protracted because the root causes of forced displacement have not been addressed or remain unresolved, such as in the conflict situations of Syria, Colombia and Ukraine.

People have also been internally displaced as a result of natural disasters and famines such as in Somalia, Burkina Faso, Mali and the Philippines, or due to climate change, where continuing conditions of insecurity prevent forcibly internally displaced people from returning home.

"We cannot continue to close our eyes to this tragedy," John said, urging "governments and the international community to take immediate action for internally displaced people."Caritas particularly called on them to ensure that internally displaced people have unconditional access to basic needs - such as food and water - and services, thus enabling them to live a dignified life, especially at this time of COVID-19 pandemic.

It urged them to ensure a safe and dignified return to their homes for those who want and can return. It also appealed for a "global ceasefire, in order to suspend the conflicts that are among the main causes that force internally displaced people to flee."