India records 3.23 Cr internal displacements due to disasters in 9-years

The report by the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) said disasters triggered 264.8 million internal displacements or forced movements across 210 countries and territories during this period.

East and South Asia were the most affected regions. "At the country level, Bangladesh, China, India, the Philippines and the US recorded the highest figures over the past decade," the report said.

China recorded 46.9 million internal displacements and the Philippines 46.1 million.

The report said that nearly 90 per cent of global disaster displacements were the result of floods and storms.

"Storms triggered most of the world's disaster displacements between 2015 and 2024, accounting for 120.9 million movements," it said.

Floods triggered 114.8 million displacements during the same period.

Cyclones, including Amphan in 2020, accounted for about 92 per cent of all storm displacements globally.

The report said disasters have triggered an increasing number of internal displacements since 2015, resulting in part of more frequent and intense hazards but also improved data at the national level and better monitoring capacity at the global level.

India recorded 5.4 million (54 lakh) displacements last year due to floods, storms and other disasters, the highest figure in 12 years.

The report said many of the displacements were pre-emptive evacuations, testimony to the efforts of governments and local communities in disaster-prone countries to save lives and prevent injuries.

-PTI