Christine Smith Ellison is a Research Associate in Education, Conflict and International Development at the UNESCO Centre, University of Ulster, UK.Alan Smith is the UNESCO Chair in Education at the University of Ulster, UK, where he is Professor of Education.

The authors provide a very valuable addition to the growing literature on education in emergencies, with their emphasis on the education of the internally displaced. The chapters draw out the opportunities, constraints and approaches required for meeting the educational needs of IDPs, some of which have much in common with those applying to refugees and others affected by conflict, but many of which are particular to IDP situations. Several case studies illustrate well the main arguments.

• Series Editor's Preface Colin Brock \ Introduction: A Global Overview of Education and Internally Displaced Persons Christine Smith Ellison \ 1. The Education Sector Response to Hurricane Katrina in the USA Anne Lauten \ 2. Alternative Approaches to Education for Displaced Children inPuntland and Somaliland Silje Sjøvaag Skeie \ 3. Armed Conflict and Education KevinWatkins \ 4. Legislative Protection for Internally Displaced Persons and Education in Colombia Manuel José Cepeda Espinosa \ 5. Educational Challenges of Conflict and Flood Related Displacement in Pakistan Elizabeth Ferris and Chareen Stark \ 6. The Challenges for Education of Protracted Displacement in Sri Lanka Lynn Davies \ 7. Returnees and the Challenges for Education Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina Marina Bowder and Valery Perry \ 8. Conclusion: The Challenges for the International Aid System Alan Smith \ Index