Institute of International Affairs, Graduate School of International Studies, Seoul National University
Abstract
This study explores the inconsistency between legal frameworks and international humanitarian operations and examines characteristics of contemporary forced migration and international
humanitarian responses. Forced migration has been politicized and international humanitarian
responses have changed as follows. First, the increasing number of IDPs and changing national
refugee policies indicate that the international community is reluctant to host refugees. Second,
refugees are likely to relocate to neighboring countries, thereby intensifying the financial burdens on
host countries. Third, LDCs and developing countries are suffering from a greater burden than
developed countries to support refugees and IDPs because most forced migrants stay within their
countries of origin or within bordered countries. Finally, the recently increasing involvement of
UNHCR to help IDPs has made it difficult for a government to deny the access of the international community to displaced people in its territory