Legal Definitions - IDP

IDP

IDP stands for Internally Displaced Person. This refers to someone who has been forced to flee their home due to conflict, violence, or natural disasters, but has not crossed an international border to seek safety.

Examples of IDPs include:

• A family who had to leave their home in Syria due to the ongoing civil war, but are still living within the country's borders.
• People who had to evacuate their homes in the Philippines due to a typhoon, but are staying with relatives or in temporary shelters within the country.

These examples illustrate how IDPs are different from refugees, who have crossed an international border to seek safety in another country. IDPs are often more vulnerable because they are still within the conflict or disaster zone and may not have access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare.