With democratic and pluralistic governments few and far between, most internally displaced persons can not rely upon their government. It should be noted that even when the governments allow in international aid to their displaced populations, they often remain suspicious of such efforts. They fear that the assistance will undermine their own authority. For this reason, governments are often unwilling to allow humanitarian organizations to mount cross-border operations or to negotiate with the rebel forces. This has been the case in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.
Internal conflicts caused by warlordism are equally problematic.
In failed states, belligerents or nonstate actors accept almost no ground rules of battle. The main target of the rebel force in Sierra Leone are civilians. Humanitarian assistance is plundered and perceived as a weapon, access is closed off, and no respect shown for the personnel and equipment of humanitarian agencies. Access may be further complicated by the different manifestations of internal displacement. In some countries, IDPs do not congregate in accessible camps or settlements but disperse so as to avoid identification.