dispersados

Dispersados is a term used in Spanish to refer to people who have been forced to leave their homes due to threats to their safety or livelihoods. The category covers both internally displaced persons (IDPs), who remain within their country, and refugees, who cross international borders seeking protection.

The displacement path is usually involuntary and can be triggered by armed conflict, persecution, violence, or natural disasters. IDPs stay within the borders of their country and remain under its protection, while refugees are protected by international refugee law and may be resettled in other countries. The international response is guided by humanitarian norms and agencies such as UNHCR and IOM. The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (1998) set out rights and protections for IDPs, while the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol govern refugee status.

Durable solutions for dispersados include voluntary return to a safe environment, local integration where they reside, or resettlement to a third country. Rebuilding livelihoods, housing, education, and access to healthcare are central to these solutions, alongside efforts to ensure safety and legal protection.

Dispersados face ongoing challenges, including access to shelter, healthcare, education, protection from violence, and legal documentation. Their situation often requires coordinated responses from governments, humanitarian actors, and communities to provide protection, essential services, and pathways to durable solutions.