Holding On: Their Most Cherished Possession

From the fires of California to famine and war in Yemen and South Sudan, every year millions of people are displaced by natural disasters, violence and extreme climate.

Around the world, the number of people forced from their homes and neighborhoods has more than doubled in the past twenty years. The current official estimate of displaced persons is more than 68 million.

In this episode, we ask: What would you hold onto if you were forced to flee your home and had only moments to decide what to take with you?

A landap, a pot and a government-issued health card are three of the answers from three internally displaced people, who fled Marawi City in The Southern Philippines during intense fighting in 2017. We hear their personal stories as they explain why these items are their most cherished possessions. Our interviews are part of the global art exhibition and digital campaign, "Holding On: Symbols of Displacement."

“Just like a refugee just like any other human being, someone who has been forced to leave his own home will have exactly the same vulnerability as any other person", says Mohammed Abdiker, Director of Operations and Emergencies at IOM- the UN Migration Agency. In this episode, we learn more about internally displaced people, and why 192 nations have agreed to a global migration pact, which is set to be formally adopted weeks from now at a meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Special Episode: Mohammed Abdiker of IOM

Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are families-- mothers, fathers, children and grandparents-- who were forced to leave their homes. Unlike refugees who crossed a border, they remain in their home countries.

In this special episode, we speak with Mohammed Abdiker, Director of the Department of Operations and Emergencies at IOM, the UN migration agency, about his work with displaced people.

Forced to Flee: Internally Displaced People

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are among the world's most vulnerable people. Each year, their numbers grow: Families and individuals forced to flee their homes, because of war, terrorism, government repression, natural disasters and climate change. 
 
IDP's greatly outnumber refugees. According to one official estimate, of 68.5 million people uprooted in 2017, more than 40 million were internally displaced people.
 
While the plight of refugees is frequently the focus of media attention, IDPs are frequently overlooked or ignored. And they are not protected by international treaties.
 
In this episode, we speak about the urgent need for humanitarian assistance with Mohammed Abdiker, Director of Operations and Emergencies at the UN migration agency, IOM. 
 
We also look at two new campaigns to raise global awareness of IDPs. "Holding On" is a new international art and multimedia exhibit, organized by IOM. #NotATarget uses a new kind of "selfie petition" to boost understanding of displacement.