IDPs humanitarian assistance

Many IDPs face problems and vulnerabilities that are not limited to the displaced but become particularty relevant in the context of internal displacement there is some evidence that without humanitarian assistance IDPs mn a higher risk than... 

Looking at IDPs as a specific category of concern should not be understood as a reason to provide them with humanitarian assistance to the detriment of other vulnerable people. Assistance should always be provided on the basis of assessed needs and vulnerabilities and not on grounds of categorization, but looking at IDPs as a specific categoiy of concern helps to ensure that such assistance in fact meets their specific needs. 

This document sets out the rights of IDPs in 30 Principles. Covering all phases of displacement, they first present some General Principles. These include the important statement that the primary duty and responsibilily to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons rests not with the international community but national authorities (Principle 3) (Brookings Institution 2005). 

Principles relating to humanitarian assistance (Principles 24-6) contain the important statement that while international humanitarian actors only can work on behalf of IDPs once the state concerned has accepted their offer to provide services, such consent shall not be arbitrarily withheld, particularty when authorities concerned are urrable or unwilling to provide the required humanitarian assistance (Principle 25). 

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