The Global Protection Cluster (GPC) regularly monitors and tracks 15 protection risks across emergencies crisis.
During the second quarter of 2023
Psychological / Emotional Abuse or Inflicted Distress
- Afghanistan
- oPt
- Sudan
- Colombia
- DR Congo
- El Salvador
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nigeria
- Syria NE
- Venezuela
- Chad
- Ethiopia
- Haiti
- Mali
- Niger
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Honduras
- Guatemala
People with disabilities and older people in NE Syria experience significant psychological distress due to a lack of specialized services. Children affected by conflict are deprived of their rights to protection and education, suffering from severe emotional distress. There is limited or non-existent availability of psychosocial services and a lack of specialized professionals to attend cases in Venezuela. There is also a lack of community networks and resilience and a lack of awareness about mental health and what constitutes as emotional abuse. MHPSS needs are identified to be a severe need in Mozambique. With no sight of the end of war in Sudan, the population’s apprehension is mounting each day amidst economic crisis and prices of commodities skyrocketing. The prolonged exposure to violence in zones affected by conflict in DR Congo causes profound and often long-lasting impacts on the mental and psychosocial health of individuals, and particularly devastating effects on women, children, and youth. The magnitude of this risk is aggravated by the limited specialized services and actors. Many people have reported being psychologically distressed in Afghanistan mostly due to increasing levels of poverty, forced returns, and natural hazards like floods and earthquakes.
Unlawful Impediments or Restrictions to Freedom of Movement, Siege and Forced Displacement
- Afghanistan
- oPt
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Colombia
- DR Congo
- Honduras
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Syria NE
- Chad
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Mali
- South Sudan
- Venezuela
- Ethiopia
- Guatemala
- N/A
236,000 displacements were recorded within Somalia in 2024, with the Hiraan, Lower Juba, and Bay regions reporting the highest number of displaced population inflows, primarily due to flooding / Gu’ rains that was experienced between April to June. The rains affected some 268,359 people and killed 10. Destruction of farms, public infrastructure, and other livelihood assets has also been reported. Since the start of the year, more than 940,000 people have been newly displaced in DR Congo, bringing the total number to around 7.3 million IDPs. Forced displacement parallels the limitation of freedom of movement, which is mainly hampered by the various illegal roadblocks erected by armed groups or by the National Defense and Security Forces. It is worth noting that two provinces in Eastern Congo have been under siege since 2021 (Ituri and Nord Kivu). Pervasive landmine contamination, explosive hazards, and fighting with heavy weapons and aerial bombardment continues to drive displacement and exacerbate already severe humanitarian needs in Myanmar, with more than 3 million people estimated to be internally displaced. Movement restrictions in camps remain a prominent challenge, exacerbated by the lack of documentation and newcomer cards in Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa (NE Syria). Violence is the main cause of forced displacement in Honduras. Furthermore, forced recruitment, extortion, gender-based violence and climate change related disasters are amongst its main triggers. Forced displacement significantly impacts housing security, education continuity, and income stability. The first two quarters of the year witnessed the forced displacement of 91,000 persons in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces in Mozambique due to attacks from Non-State Armed Groups. The first half of 2024 in Colombia shows a trend of increased humanitarian emergencies compared to the first half of 2023. To date, about 85 mass displacement events have been reported, affecting more than 32,000 people. Likewise, around 52,000 people are affected by confinements, with impediments or restrictions to humanitarian access, generating impacts on mental health, food security and rights in general.
Gender-Based Violence
- Afghanistan
- Haiti
- Mali
- Mozambique
- oPt
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Venezuela
- Chad
- Colombia
- DR Congo
- El Salvador
- Ethiopia
- Honduras
- Myanmar
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Syria-NE
- Guatemala
- Nigeria
- N/A
- N/A
In South Sudan, there has been a 10% increase in reported sexual violence prevalence in the first half of 2024. Conflict-related sexual violence has been reported in Tambura during the last quarter while heavy floods have led to increased displacement, further exposing people to high risk of gender-based violence. In Haiti, 1,793 GBV incidents – 75% being sexual violence – have been reported in the last quarter. In NE Syria, GBV incidents are considered the most common cases in the camp contexts. Venezuela is reporting high frequency of cases of GBV in all the states in a systematic manner aggravated due to limited presence of service providers and case management. There is also a significant decrease in specialized services for GBV survivors and a low capacity of the State to provide comprehensive responses to GBV cases. The centralization of the response in the capital of the state, with limitations on transportation, creates obstacles to seeking justice. In 2024, 127 women have been violently killed in Honduras, while 120 are reported missing. The InterInstitutional Commission for Monitoring Investigations of Violent Deaths of Women and Femicides in Honduras presented a bill to the Honduran Parliament called the “Purple Alert” which aims to establish a legal framework to help prevent the disappearances of girls and women and to aid in the search for missing women. Gender-based violence is reported as one of the most severe protection risks not only in Cabo Delgado, but also in the areas that are affected by natural disaster and drought in Mozambique. Fear of reporting GBV cases persists in Colombia. Nevertheless, there are situations of forced marriages or forced unions as part of the territorial control strategies of non-state armed groups. There has been an upsurge of gender-based violence including intimate partners violence in Sudan linked to the changing role in the family where the male heads of households have lost their livelihood and the stress that comes from the inability to provide for the basic needs of the family. Armed conflict and the resulting forced displacement in DR Congo are aggravating factors putting women, girls, and other vulnerable groups at risk of GBV due to the weakening or disappearance of traditional protection structures and the disruption of traditional gender roles, in addition to the erosion of state authority. Protection monitoring and rapid assessments have regularly highlighted that women are victims of physical violence, rape, and other violations of their rights, particularly during the collection of firewood or water. The use of negative coping practices such as survival sex, early/forced marriage, the increase in female genital mutilation, child labour and sexual exploitation are also increasing. GBV is very high in Afghanistan including reported cases of suicide due to limited access to GBV services. Reports indicate that a staggering 52% of women aged 15-49 in Somalia have endured physical violence, while 14% have faced sexual violence, according to GBVIMS data, with a high prevalence of rape recorded in IDP sites. Women and girls in IDP sites are especially vulnerable, grappling with the compounding risks posed by overcrowded living conditions, inadequate shelters and a lack of security. This underscores the severity of this crisis with a 20% rise in GBV incidents in IDP sites in 2024 compared to 2023. Limited-service provision, fear of reprisal, societal shame, and a deep-seated distrust in authorities all contribute to the significant underreporting of GBV incidents. According to the GBV AoR, less than 30% of cases are reported. Survivors often lack confidence in the protection and support they might receive if they choose to come forward, further deterring them from reporting their experiences. This widespread underreporting creates substantial data gaps, hindering the development of effective policies and interventions. Consequently, the true scale of the crisis remains obscured, making it exceedingly challenging to address and combat GBV comprehensively. In Mali, the number of GBV incidents increased by 30% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023. Issues related to sexual assault, sexual harassment, verbal harassment, and threats of violence are among the main concerns of women and girls, particularly in regions affected by insecurity. An increase in GBV has been reported in Ethiopia in relation to areas affected by conflict/ violence, and in areas affected by climatic shocks such as drought, where GBV rates have increased and the affected population sometimes also resort to forms of GBV related negative coping mechanisms (e.g. transactional sex, child marriages and related increase in FGM).
Forced Recruitment and Association of Children in Armed Forces and Groups
- Colombia
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Somalia
- Sudan
- DR Congo
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Syria NE
- Chad
- Guatemala
- Mali
- Nigeria
- Niger
- oPt
- Afghanistan
- El Salvador
- Ethiopia
- South Sudan
- Venezuela
- N/A
In Guatemala, forced recruitment of children by criminal groups is reported as one of the main protection risks. According to a recent report by a child protection partner, more than 30% of the members of armed gangs in Haiti are children and adolescents. Child recruitment still remains a sensitive subject in NE Syria with minimal data and few reports published showing the level of recruitment – however, the UN Secretary General report indicates over 1,000 children were recruited in NES. In Honduras, where an estimated 20,000 children are in a street-like situation, confronted with forced labour and vulnerable to drug trafficking, children and youth are increasingly exposed to the risk of forced recruitment by organized criminal groups. Force recruitment of children is reported as one of the most severe protection risks in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, due to the increased number of attacks of Non-State Armed Groups, and increased number of areas under their control. The risk of recruitment, use and utilization of children persists in the Pacific, Amazon, Venezuelan and Ecuadorian borders and in the Bajo Cauca Antioquia and Sur de Bolivar sub-regions of Colombia. Ethnic, indigenous and Afro-descendant communities are being disproportionately affected by constant threats from armed actors. In addition, schools are being weakened as protective environments due to attacks on educational institutions and the effects of the conflict on teachers and administrators. Both parties to the conflict and their affiliated armed forces are actively mobilizing and recruiting children. In a context of increased armed conflicts in DR Congo, the exposure of children and adolescents to the risks of violence, abuse, recruitment and use of sexual violence, including in IDP sites, is increasing. In the first quarter of 2024, preliminary data show that nearly 750 grave violations against children have been verified by the United Nations, more than half of which concern the recruitment and use of children by armed actors. Somalia is among the countries that recorded the highest number of grave violations against children including the use and recruitment of children by armed forces and groups. According to the Monitoring & Reporting Mechanism, a total of 658 children were recruited and used by armed forces and groups. In addition, a total of 278 children were detained for their alleged association with armed groups by Government security forces.
Discrimination and Stigmatization, Denial of Resources, Opportunities, Services And/Or Humanitarian Access
- Afghanistan
- oPt
- Sudan
- Chad
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Somalia
- DR Congo
- El Salvador
- Ethiopia
- Mali
- Honduras
- Guatemala
- South Sudan
- Colombia
- Syria NE
- Venezuela
- N/A
Community tensions and conflict between host communities and IDPs in Mozambique is resulting from strained resources and limited access to humanitarian assistance and services. Women and girls are highly discriminated against in Afghanistan, as they are denied education, not allowed to work, or start a business. In addition, religious and ethnic minorities are discriminated against, with some unable to access civil documents, own land, and access essential services. Alleged diversion of humanitarian assistance, intimidation, abuse, and exploitation by powerful influencers in aid distribution in Somalia have blocked equitable distribution of assistance and access to those most in need. This has been exacerbated by communities frequently having limited and inaccessible information on how to seek assistance, with minorities, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups most affected. Discrimination, especially targeted at LGBTQ+ groups, is prevalent in Venezuela compounded by a lack of public policies that protect them. Numerous cases of suicides were reported in the last quarter, in addition to systematized violence.
Attacks on Civilians and other Unlawful Killings, and Attacks on Civilian Objects
- Haiti
- Myanmar
- Nigeria
- oPt
- Somalia
- Sudan
- DR Congo
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Niger
- Colombia
- Chad
- Ethiopia
- Honduras
- Afghanistan
- El Salvador
- South Sudan
- Syria NE
- Guatemala
- Venezuela
In the West Bank (oPt), a new wave of settler violence is taking place allegedly aimed at forcibly displacing further Bedouin and herding communities encircled by outposts and settlements. Israeli authorities adopted series of dramatic measures towards settlements expansion and annexation. Casualties and extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure were recorded throughout the reporting period following Israeli militarized raids in Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank. In DR Congo, a notable intensification of violence against civilians was observed in the first half of the year, particularly in the east (Ituri, Nord Kivu, Sud Kivu) as well as in western part (Mai-Ndombe, Kwilu, Kwango). This escalation has led to severe attacks on civilians, with 5,534 incidents recorded from January to May 2024 by the protection monitoring systems. In addition to attacking the population and their property, attacks have also targeted health centres, schools, agricultural fields, grazing areas, livestock fish farms, etc. The prevalence of armed conflict as well as military offensives from government forces against Al-Shabaab in Somalia in 2024 have had a severe impact on the protection of civilian populations with no clear end of the hostilities in sight. These populations face specific protection needs in the 30 conflict-affected districts across 12 regions in Somaliland, Puntland, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, Jubaland and Southwest State in Somalia. As fighting continued and expanded in Sudan, both parties to the conflict including their affiliated armed forces continued to disregard the safety of civilians and civilians’ objects, with intense shelling and aerial bombardment. Increased armed attacks by Non-State Armed Groups in Mozambique continued during the first half of the year. Civilian fatalities between the last quarter of 2023 and first quarter of 2024 increased by 300%. 75% of reported fatalities are civilians and 83% are children. Burning and looting of houses, religious centres, markets, and aid organizations were also reported. The first quarter of 2024 was the most violent in Haiti in the past two years, with more than 2,500 people killed and 845 injured due to gang-related violence. According to the Observatory for Children´s Rights of Casa Alianza in Honduras, a young person is violently killed every 37 hours, marking a 13% surge in violent killings of children and youth during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. In Mali, 1,620 people have been killed in the first half of 2024. Confrontation continues between the State Security Forces and NSAG’s leading to civilian casualties in all regions of Cameroon. Whereas in the Far North, unidentified armed groups continue to harass civilians and theft of food and non-food items have been reported.
Impediments and/or Restrictions to Access to Legal Identity, Remedies and Justice
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- oPt
- Sudan
- El Salvador
- Mozambique
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Syria NE
- Chad
- Colombia
- DR Congo
- Ethiopia
- Honduras
- Guatemala
- Somalia
- Venezuela
- Mali
- Nigeria
In South Sudan, there are only two locations where nationality and identity documentation are being issued (Wau and Juba), leavening many people without access to legal identity documents. Additionally, reports indicate that identity cards have not been available in South Sudan for the past four months and ID costs have risen almost 100 USD. The lack of civil documentation services including for birth registration in conflict-affected areas in Niger is reported as a major concern. In NE Syria, the lack of identity cards, passports, family booklets, marriage contracts and birth registration have been reported as major risks, hampering access to services and freedom of movement. Impediments and/or restrictions to access legal identity documents, remedies and justice are identified in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces of Mozambique as a main protection risk to address. The conflict in Sudan has resulted in the breakdown and collapse of rule of law. In Afghanistan, women lawyers have been restricted from practicing in courts of law. Many people lack civil documentation due to the complex process, limited services, and costly procedures. Widespread attacks on state infrastructure in Haiti, including courts and police stations have caused a breakdown of rule of law institutions and rendered it almost impossible to access justice for the affected population.
Theft, Extortion, Forced Eviction or Destruction of Personal Property
- Nigeria
- oPt
- Sudan
- Syria NE
- Chad
- Honduras
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Somalia
- Afghanistan
- DR Congo
- El Salvador
- Mali
- South Sudan
- Colombia
- Ethiopia
- Guatemala
- Venezuela
- N/A
Increasing cases of tent thefts in various camps in NE Syria are exposing residents to the risk of assault. Social tensions and disputes over the priority of receiving humanitarian aid were among the main reasons for evacuations from informal camps in Deir ez-Zor by the local community. Honduras has less than 30% of its land clearly identified in images or maps, in a national cadaster, and less than 27% of the land officially registered. Generalized violence and extortion severely impact housing, land, and property, causing dispossession and wrongful or illegal seizure, aggravating the impact to those at-risk or forcibly displaced internally. In Mozambique this year, houses, personal properties and local markets have been destroyed during the attacks of Non-State Armed Groups in Cabo Delgado and in two districts of Nampula province . With the dramatic increase in internal displacement in Sudan, the number of ‘gathering sites’ sheltering internally displaced people across the country continues to grow. Displacement is now protracted. Return to areas of origin is impeded, and there are limited alternatives to ‘gathering sites’, which are not equipped or appropriate for longer term shelter. With the Government’s announcement to reopen schools, there is now an urgent imperative to find solutions that both support children’s return to education, and ensure access to appropriate, safe and sustainable shelter. However, with a very limited level of humanitarian funding and overstretched resources of host communities, there are no tangible shelter options for the growing number of IDPs in ’gathering sites’ and in general. This has led to a worrying trend of forced eviction from schools. In Somalia, the HLP AoR indicates that a total of 46,194 IDPs, mostly residents of camps in the Banadir region, have been forcefully evicted. Forced evictions disproportionately affect vulnerable populations among both those who have been newly displaced and those who have been displaced for a protracted period of time. Those most impacted by forced evictions are people with disabilities.
