Response to Hathaway

Conflict situations around the world regularly compel the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations to become involved in assisting both refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). In West Darfur Sudan UNHCR is helping tens of thousands of refugees from Chad as well as hundreds of thousands of IDPs both fleeing their homes and communities from military attacks and in desperate need of food shelter and protection. Across the border in Chad IDPs and refugees also face many of the same threats and problems. The similarities in the predicament of refugees and IDPs prompted UK Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn to ask Is it really sensible that we have different systems for dealing with people fleeing their homes dependent on whether they happen to have crossed an international border? (excerpt)