ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Internally Displaced Persons

Imagine you have a house that you love, where you have all your toys, books, and family members. But suddenly, something bad happens like a big storm or a war, and your house is not safe anymore. You have to leave quickly and find a new place to live. This is kind of like what happens to people who become internally displaced persons (IDPs).

IDPs are people who are forced to leave their homes because of something bad that has happened in their country, like violence, conflict, or natural disasters. They're different from refugees because they haven't crossed an international border to find safety. They're still in their own country, but they have nowhere to go and they're not safe in their own homes anymore.

When IDPs leave their homes, they often have to leave everything behind - they can't take all their toys, books, or family members with them. They might only be able to bring a few things with them, like clothes or food. They might have to walk a long way to find safety, or they might find a temporary shelter, like a school or church that's been turned into a place to sleep.

Being an IDP can be really hard because you don't know when you'll be able to go back to your home, and you might not have access to things like clean water, food, or medicine. Sometimes, IDPs can stay in their temporary shelters for years, waiting for things to get better in their country so they can return home.

But there are people and organizations who are working to help IDPs. They provide things like food, water, medicine, and shelter to help people stay safe and healthy while they're waiting to return home. They also work to create peace and stability in conflict-affected areas so that people can go back to their homes and communities.