At the end of 2024, the United Nations Refugee Agency estimated that 123.2 million people around the world had been forced to flee due to persecution, armed conflict, violence, human rights violations, and events severely disrupting public order. Large-scale conflicts intensify and worsen this trend, impacting not only displaced persons but also the communities hosting them and potentially those left behind. International humanitarian law aims to prevent displacement due to armed conflicts while minimizing harm to civilians, including displaced populations.
In this article, legal advisors Matt Pollard and Helen Obregón from the International Committee of the Red Cross examine the humanitarian challenges related to population movements, mass displacement, and the breakdown of family ties in such conflicts. The article also proposes concrete measures that states can and should take to address these challenges and fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law.
Large-scale armed conflicts generally result in mass movements of civilians, posing challenges for systems meant to protect, support, and manage their displacement within and across borders. Such situations can prolong displacement, making it difficult to find sustainable solutions. International humanitarian law aims to limit these harms by providing protections for displaced persons and emphasizing the importance of family unity.
The article is based on updated commentary from the Fourth Geneva Convention published by the ICRC. It highlights how states can prepare in advance to ensure effective protection under international humanitarian law in the event of a large-scale international armed conflict. Context and Fact Check: International humanitarian law establishes rules to protect civilians in armed conflicts and uphold basic human rights principles.
