IFRC’s new guide, Planned Relocation in the Context of Disasters and Climate Change: A guide for Asia Pacific National Societies, provides practical guidance to prevent and prepare for displacement, to respond to displacement and to support recovery for displaced people.
Finau Heuifanga Leveni, IFRC Disaster Law Coordinator for Asia Pacific says, planning to relocate communities through planned relocation may be a solution for people who cannot return home after the floods reside or storm clears, especially in in Asia Pacific, the most disaster-prone region in the world.
“Planning to relocate communities due to disaster and climate change is always a last resort, but it is a reality in a region where millions of people are forced from their homes every year due to disasters and climate change.
“But this is an extremely complex undertaking that involves many people, namely those who have decided to leave their homes.
“The Guide addresses this complexity – looking at all aspects, including, how we plan to relocate entire communities from their homes, how we help a community physically pack up their village and relocate and the emotional help people need to prepare to leave their home."
Planned relocations are already being implemented across Asia Pacific, both before and after disasters, and Asia Pacific National Societies are supporting communities and authorities to undertake planned relocations.
At a global level, planned relocations are gaining increasing prominence in legal and policy frameworks. Some countries in the region, including Fiji and Solomon Islands have developed or are developing specific policy approaches on planned relocation.
The Guide has tools for National Societies in Asia Pacific to work with their governments to ensure the legal and policy frameworks for planned relocation are strong and relevant.