National Policy on Refugee-Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons.

The major objective of this policy is to ensure that all refugee-returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) enjoy full equality and obtain the same rights as those given to all citizens by the Somali National Constitution and all other laws of Somalia, as well as international humanitarian and human rights laws. Refugee-returnees and IDPs shall not be discriminated against in the exercise or enjoyment of any rights and freedoms on the land on which they live as refugee-returnees or IDPs. The aim is to protect persons of concern from further forced displacement, provide protection and assistance during displacement, and find a durable solution to their displacement. As for the purpose of this policy, internally displaced persons (IDPs) are distinguished from refugee-returnees, as follows: a. IDPs are: (a) persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to leave their original homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, clan-based or other forms of generalized violence and insecurity, development projects, violations of human rights, or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized state border; persons or groups of persons who are forcibly evicted from their settlement, and who have no access to an adequate housing or land alternative or to appropriate compensation that would allow them to restore their lives in a sustainable manner; pastoralists who have lost access to their traditional nomadic living space through loss of livestock, or loss of access to grazing and water points or markets, and have therefore left their habitual living space. (b) refugee-returnees are those who suffer secondary internal displacement upon return, or who find themselves in a protracted situation of displacement similar to IDPs due to their inability to return to their former homes or places of habitual residence. As with IDPs, refugee-returnees are covered by this policy framework without prejudice to international agreements and plans applicable to their situation. (c) persons falling under categories a and b qualify as IDPs regardless of whether they stay in identified IDP sites or live in urban areas together with non-displaced communities or with host families, irrespective of the cause and duration of their displacement, and their clan and area of origin.