Population movements in the Horn of Africa (1963-2007)

The intra-state armed conflicts that broke out in the Horn of Africa from the 1950s onwards led to demographic bleeding. These armed conflicts, far from being isolated, reached a regional dimension due to the interference of neighboring countries. From 1963 to 1989, it was almost impossible for refugees and internally displaced persons to find refuge in areas controlled by the enemy. The international community was powerless to respond to this situation because of certain obstacles that limited its actions. Assistance to IDPs and refugees depended on the willingness of some local authorities to grant asylum to people on the basis of affinity. Since the end of the 1980s, with the disappearance of the obstacles to its interventions, the international community has been able to become effectively involved in the care of refugees and internally displaced persons. The assistance they receive no longer depends solely on the will of local authorities, but on that of the international community.