5 Reintegration of Internally Displaced Persons and

Refugees
87. The conflicts in Sudan and neighboring countries have created a large
number of internally displaced people (IDPs) and internationally displaced
persons (refugees) fleeing conflict from neighboring countries. Estimates of
IDPs range from 2 million to 5 million, with major concentration in the in the
Darfur states, and significant presence in Khartoum state and East Sudan. Sudan
is host to over 200,000 refugees and asylum seeker from neighboring countries,
mainly Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Chad, Central Africa Republic and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. These are concentrated in East Sudan. Both
Darfur and East Sudan have histories of internal conflict and also have large
populations of poor people. The Darfur states are among the poorest regions in
Northern Sudan while the Eastern states are in the mid range in terms of poverty
in Northern Sudan (see Table 5). It is not the presence of these displaced
persons that rendered these regions poor but the continuing presence in the
temporary and dependent conditions will make the fight against poverty more
difficult in these regions.

88. Reintegration involves a systematic approach to end the temporary,

uncertain and dependent status of these displaced populations by providing
permanent access to shelter and sustainable livelihoods in new or existing
communities, to economic and social opportunities such as land, credit, market
places, schools and health facilities, and participation in civic activities and
decision-making in the communities. Integration programs cover several sectors
and activities such as health, education, water supply, agriculture, permanent
shelter, infrastructure, capacity building and formal and informal community
dialogue. Integration could involve the specification and agreement on the legal
rights of the new settlers, equivalent to those in the communities. For refugees,
reintegration could involve sending them back to their countries of origin or to a
third country where they could have access to the same legal rights and
opportunities available to the residents in that country.

5.1 Reintegration for sustained peace and development

89. The systematic reintegration of displaced persons in a conflict-affected
country is critical for bringing the conflict to a peaceful and sustainable
conclusion. Temporary, uncertain and dependent status can result in the
development of anti-social behaviors such collaboration with or subservience to
negative and anti-peace forces that could create threats to peace and security
and re-ignite the conflict, common crime and value-destroying activities such as
deforestation and unsanitary practices that undermine sustainable economic
development and welfare. Reintegration also helps to deal with the some of the
legacies of the civil conflict such as the deterioration of social capital,
environmental degradation, destruction of physical infrastructure, and exclusive
governance. Effective reintegration is facilitated by efforts to improve
governance in the country, including giving the people the opportunity to
participate in decisions that affect their lives. A systematic and credible national
reconciliation effort that aims to bring diverse groups of people together and
helps to consolidate national economic and political aspirations, creates a
supportive environment for reintegration. By reintegrating IDPs into
communities and permanent self-sustaining livelihoods and away from
dependence on relief assistance, largely funded by international relief agencies,
the costs of maintaining them will be eliminated and they will begin to make
value adding contributions to the national economy.