North Kivu and Ituri exacerbated the already existing conflict driven humanitarian situation, generating mass migration of people fleeing from the affected areas internally and to neighbouring countries.37 Revelations of the crises that displaced women face in camps have persisted for as long as there have been camps. IDPs in camps often suffer from poor administration and social welfare, insecurity and breakdown of services critical to law and order and access to justice. Not all IDP camps are formally constituted, as some IDPs settle in host communities where they are exposed to even more risks without targeted social support systems. Internally displaced women in such instances face immense risks around protection from sexual violence and limited access to assistance programmes.38 While refugees and IDPs may result from the same root causes of conflict, differences in their flight paths can set off different consequences. Legally and practically, IDPs may find it easier to relocate internally for better services and protection, since they are still nationals with citizen rights. The continent has grappled with the problem of refugees since the fifties, with African leadership and citizens continually seeking for solutions.39Despite the fact that under the OAU, these solutions did not consistently reflect a specific concern for women and girls caught up in conflict situations, there was an attempt to resolve the conundrum through governance. The Tunis Declaration on the 1969 Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems, 1994 highlights the importance of good governance and rule of law as key to resolving the root causes of refugees. The UN Secretary General has acknowledged that the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention transcends the landmark 1951 Refugee Convention as it reflects a more expanded definition of a refugee.40 The OAU Refugee Convention turned 50 years old in 2019 and 46 out of 55 Member States are party to the OAU Refugee Convention 1969, of which 42 had acceded by 1995. 37 World Health Organisation ‘Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies Week 32: 05 – 11 August 2019 38 The Gender Dimensions of Internal Displacement: Concept Paper and Annotated Bibliography submitted to: Office of Emergency Programmes, UNICEF November 1998 39 Stated in the Tunis Declaration on the 1969 Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems 1994 (Tunis Declaration) 40 United Nations ‘Africa Has Set Gold Standard for Solidarity, Secretary-General Tells Regional Summit, Citing Unmatched Generosity to Those Seeking Safe Haven 10 February 2019. Available at https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/sgsm19459.doc.htm 23