Returns to areas within 30 km of the frontline constitute one-third of all IDP returns since February 2022, amounting to an estimated 1.6 million people. Between January and June 2024, returns to the 30 km zone represented 11% of all returnee households in this geographic area. The majority of these returns were to urban settlements (92%).
IDPs’ motivations for returning to unsafe areas are complex. Unlike returnees to other parts of the country, IDPs coming back to places within 30km of the frontline are rarely motivated by an improving security situation. Instead, personal reasons such as family reunification are the most common driver, potentially reflecting a need to care for older family members who have remained behind. Push factors such as economic and especially housing challenges are less widely reported, but at higher rates for recent returnees to unsafe areas.
IDPs returning to unsafe areas are demographically similar to IDPs returning to other parts of the country. However, this means that half of returnees to within 30 km of the frontline are households with children.
