Internal Displacement and COVID-19: Taking Stock and Looking Forward

Khouzam, Amir; Verma, Malvika

As the world continues to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, its broad and longer-term implications are starting to become clear, including those that affect internal displacement caused by armed conflict or situations of violence. This article outlines some of the vectors along which the pandemic intersects with internal displacement, and the degree to which a long-term and solutions-oriented approach can complement the response to emergency needs during a pandemic. It concludes with recommendations on how the approach and efforts of relevant stakeholders need to change, now and into the future, to address the acute and long-term impacts of the present pandemic and prepare for the next one. The article draws on existing literature, emerging guidelines on responding to the impact of COVID-19 on IDPs, and on operational updates and reports prepared by humanitarian organisations.