The Vatican’s office for migrants and refugees reports directly to Pope Francis. It is focusing sharply on the large group of internally displaced persons (IDPs), more than 50 million people in 61 countries, whose plight is worsened by the COVID-19 crisis because of flagging resources and attention. A document issued in early May urges the Church to help them, building around the four verbs that Pope Francis often emphasizes in relation to migrants and refugees—welcome, protect, promote, integrate.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., who heads the Vatican office, commented during an online press conference that “The virus does not distinguish between those who are important and those who are invisible, those who are settled and those who are displaced. Everyone is vulnerable and each infection is a danger to everyone.” Multitasking is not optional. The coronavirus pandemic shows how systemic weaknesses are real weaknesses, vulnerabilities are real vulnerabilities, and fragilities are real fragilities. Living secure and peaceful lives, we often overlook those who are suffering.

The document “Pastoral Orientations on Internally Displaced People” offers guidelines for use by Catholic dioceses, parishes and religious congregations, schools and universities, and Catholic and other civil society organizations. It highlights the ambiguous status of IDPs, who take refuge within their own country, as they lack formal recognition as refugees. The Church is called to promote “the material and spiritual needs of IDPs,” notably including education and medical care. It urges special care for the most vulnerable IDPs, including people fleeing from war, abused women and children, child soldiers, disabled persons, and members of ethnic groups that face discrimination.

Among the gravest IDP crises is Colombia, with the highest number of IDPs after Syria and Iraq. IDPs in Yemen are perhaps the world’s most vulnerable, with nearly 80 percent of Yemen’s population of over 29 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Under international law, the primary responsibility for protecting the human rights of IDPs and for providing them with humanitarian assistance remains with their national government, even if that government is not always willing or able to fulfil its obligations. In the latter cases, “international actors may be called on by states and the international community to reinforce, rather than to replace, national responsibility.” It gives importance to working to integrate IDPs in new communities.

(Based on: May 5, 2020, America article)