Security Council calls for more help for refugees, IDPs

The Security Council, at the end of its debate, expressed concern over the “alarmingly high” numbers of refugees and IDPs in Africa and stressed the need to address the root causes of armed conflict. In a statement, its current president, Richard Holbrooke of the US, acknowledged the shortfall in funding for refugee and IDP programmes in Africa, and called on the international community to come up with the necessary financial resources. For IDPs in particular there was no comprehensive protection programme and existing norms were not being fully implemented, he noted. “The Council affirms the need to ensure adequate protection and assistance for both refugees and IDPs, taking into account the special difficulties in the provision of humanitarian assistance to IDPs in Africa,” he said.