Internal displacement refers to the forced movement of people within the country they live in. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre’s (IDMC) summary states that for the period between January and June 2019, there were about 10.8 million new displacements worldwide. Approximately two-thirds of these displacements were triggered by disasters and the remaining were attributed to conflict and violence. Relative to previous years, the number of displacements has generally increased in all regions, including some areas that have endured overwhelming spikes.

Conflict and Violence
Similar to other historical findings, Syria recorded the highest number of displacements. The 804,000 new cases was the highest figure globally, and was a result of the clashes in border areas of Idlib and Hama governorates continuing to exact a high civilian cost. Furthermore, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recorded 718,000 new displacements, the result of intercommunal violence and clashes between armed groups in nine provinces.

Areas of significant growth of new displacements include Yemen, where the figure recorded in the same measured period in 2018 had doubled to 282,000, as people evaded confrontations in Hajjah, Hodeidah and Al-Dhale governorates. Similarly, figures for Afghanistan had also increased to 213,000, which was mainly the product of shifting conflict dynamics and clashes involving non-state armed groups, particularly in Kunar, Nangarhar and Takhar provinces.

Africa was also particularly affected. The DRC, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Sudan were among countries with the highest number of new displacements in the first half of 2019. This scope also broadens to several West African countries, including Burkina Faso and Mali, and the conflict in Libya escalated with fighting in and around Tripoli. The country recorded 137,000 new displacements, a near four-fold increase compared with the first half of 2018.

Disasters
Paired with the increasing relevance of climate change in modern society, weather-related hazards were responsible for the highest disaster displacement figures, with the major storms playing an immense role in the first half of 2019. Cyclone Fani triggered more than 3.4 million new displacements in India and Bangladesh in May, a majority of which being attributed to lifesaving pre-emptive evacuations. Additionally, Cyclone Vayu caused a similar result in Gujarat, leading to almost 289,000 fleeing in pre-emptive evacuations. Cyclone Idai also caused devastating damage in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Madagascar and triggered 617,000 new displacements, but relatively few were pre-emptive.

Floods were also notably devastating, particularly in Iran where they affected around 90% of the country and prompted 500,000 new displacements. Flash floods and landslides in two separate events in the Philippines led to 405,000, and flooding that followed drought in Ethiopia 190,000. An exceptional rainy season in Bolivia also caused flooding that triggered 75,000.

Several data reporting problems emerge, for example data for ongoing disasters that occur between June and September, ie monsoon flooding in South and East Asia, may be publicly available at a later date, due to time required to evaluate disaster impacts and displacement. Moreover, lack of reporting, access restrictions and unreliable data are all concerns, particularly for displacement associated with conflict.

1. Internal displacement has spiked in porous border areas of West Africa since January 2019, where intercommunal violence has been reignited. New displacements increased almost eight-fold in Burkina Faso and almost seven-fold in Mali over the past 12 months. In Niger, new displacements in Tahoua and Tillaberi also increased significantly.
2. Persistent instability in Ethiopia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo has driven some of the highest levels of internal displacements in 2019. This is in light of unaddressed ethnic tensions, border disputes and political unrest.
3. Overwhelmingly high numbers of people continue to be displaced in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria and Yemen. Across all four countries, these numbers can be attributed to collapsing peace deals and failed ceasefires. For example in Afghanistan, despite the government's calls for a ceasefire and efforts at peace talks, the Taliban launched its annual spring offensive in April.
4. In today's changing climate, mass displacement triggered by extreme weather events is becoming the norm. July 2019 was the hottest month the planet has ever experienced, and the IDMC predicts that the end-of-year figure will be among the highest ever recorded
5. The record displacement triggered by Cyclone Fani hides a success story, as countries learn from the past with lifesaving pre-emptive evacuations. This cyclone triggered more than 3.4 million new displacements in India and Bangladesh in May.
6. Since 2013, the IDMC has started detecting, reporting and capturing more information (ie start and end date) on more small-scale events, thus enabling them to analyse general trends, patterns and dynamics of seasonal hydrometeorological disasters and displacements they trigger.
7. IDMC trend analysis based on historical data, despite potential prevailing reporting biases and data gaps, provides a foundation to ascertain future projections. They project around 22 million new displacements by the end of the year (increase of 25% on the figure for 2018).
8. The new displacements resulting from conflict and violence are focused in mid-north Africa, with some exception to Asia as well. However, displacement arising from disasters are generally widespead globally, with the major impact intuitively sitting at tectonic borders.
9. Globally, most displacement takes place between June and September, with July being the highest month globally. This is in light to the seasonality of cyclone and typhoon seasons, as well as monsoon seasons.