Urban vulnerability and displacement: a review of current issues

Abstract

Urban displacement is frequently portrayed as a new and unfamiliar dilemma for the humanitarian sector, yet broad awareness of its characteristics and challenges has been developing since the 1970s. In the past decade, however, there has been greater attention to, and recognition of, the implications of rapid urbanisation in the developing world. This has led to some policy development and a mounting body of NGO (non-governmental organisation) and think-tank literature on the topic. Assuming displacement to be a key lens on urban vulnerability more broadly, this paper presents an overview of the historical development of debates on urban displacement since the 1970s. Drawing examples from the contributions in this special issue of Disasters, as well as from other sources of information on recent humanitarian responses in various contexts, it assesses the ramifications of urban vulnerability for humanitarian practitioners. The paper contends that the humanitarian sector has failed to galvanise on the issue, and has struggled therefore to employ existing knowledge and to adapt practice.

The Central Medical Store Fire Disaster: A Test for Institutional Compliance in Disaster Prevention in Ghana

“…As noted by Pantuliano, Metcalfe, Haysom, and Davey (2012), the increasing interest in disaster research is related to the recognition of surging urbanization in crisis-affected countries, the prevalence of natural disasters in urban areas, and the difficulties confronting humanitarian actors in responding to such situations. "Interest has also been spurred, however, by greater understanding of several interrelated factors that are exacerbating acute and chronic vulnerabilities in such contexts, including climate change and long-term underdevelopment" (Pantuliano, Buchanan-Smith, Metcalfe, Pavanello, & Martin, 2010, p. 1).…”

What Practices Are Used to Identify and Prioritize Vulnerable Populations Affected by Urban Humanitarian Emergencies?

“…In the wake of the Mexico City earthquake, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) published several iterations of policies focused on urban displacement. The 1995 UNHCR report acknowledged a growing concern over 'the dearth of policy guidelines regarding urban refugees ' (UNHCR, 1995), an acknowledgement that created the foundation for urbanfocused humanitarian policies and research (Pantuliano et al, 2012). As a result, a focused look at identifying and targeting vulnerable populations within urban humanitarian crises of the last 30 years allows the review to be inclusive of the resources relevant to its question.…”

Mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings

“…One factor informing consideration of MHPSS within UNHCR was recognition of the changing nature and scope of forced displacement. The focus of humanitarian assistance and support to refugees from the 1970s onwards was initially centred on refugees in rural camp settings, primarily in Africa (Pantuliano, Metcalfe, Haysom, & Davey, 2012). From the 1990s onwards, large scale displacement has occurred in middle income, developed settings, including Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East (Spiegel, Checchi, Colombo, & Palk, 2010).…”