Exploring Community Development and its Challenges: Anthropo-Social Considerations in Development-Induced Displacement, Resettlement, and Rehabilitation

Daily writing prompt

How would you improve your community?

By Kavita Dehalwar

Community development is a multifaceted process aimed at enhancing the well-being, cohesion, and empowerment of communities. It encompasses various initiatives and strategies designed to foster social, economic, and environmental progress within a particular locality. However, despite its noble objectives, community development often faces significant challenges, particularly in the context of development-induced displacement, resettlement, and rehabilitation.

Understanding Development-Induced Displacement

Development projects, such as infrastructure construction, urban renewal, or natural resource extraction, can lead to the displacement of communities. This phenomenon, known as development-induced displacement, has profound anthropo-social implications. Displaced communities often experience disruptions in their social fabric, loss of livelihoods, and disconnection from cultural and historical roots. Furthermore, displacement can exacerbate existing inequalities and marginalization, particularly among vulnerable populations such as indigenous peoples or ethnic minorities.

Anthropo-Social Considerations

Anthropo-social considerations in development-induced displacement delve into the human and social dimensions of displacement. It involves recognizing the unique identities, cultures, and social structures of affected communities. Failure to acknowledge these anthropo-social factors can result in inadequate planning and implementation of resettlement and rehabilitation initiatives, leading to further marginalization and injustice.

Resettlement and Rehabilitation

Resettlement and rehabilitation are critical components of mitigating the adverse impacts of development-induced displacement. Resettlement involves the physical relocation of displaced communities to new areas, while rehabilitation focuses on restoring and enhancing their livelihoods, social cohesion, and well-being. However, effective resettlement and rehabilitation require more than just providing housing and infrastructure; they necessitate comprehensive strategies that address the socio-economic, cultural, and psychological needs of affected communities.

Challenges in Community Development

Several challenges hinder effective community development in the context of development-induced displacement:

Lack of Participation and Consultation: Displacement often occurs without meaningful consultation or participation of affected communities in decision-making processes. This lack of engagement undermines community ownership and can lead to mistrust and resistance towards development initiatives.
Inadequate Compensation and Assistance: Many displaced communities receive insufficient compensation for lost assets and livelihoods, and the assistance provided during resettlement is often inadequate to meet their needs. This can exacerbate poverty and deepen social inequalities.
Cultural Disruption and Identity Loss: Displacement disrupts the cultural traditions, practices, and identities of affected communities, leading to a sense of loss and disorientation. Preserving cultural heritage and fostering cultural continuity are essential for the well-being and resilience of displaced communities.
Psychological Impacts: Displacement can have profound psychological impacts, including stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Addressing the psychosocial needs of displaced individuals and communities is crucial for their mental health and resilience.
Sustainability and Long-Term Development: Ensuring the long-term sustainability of resettlement and rehabilitation efforts is essential for the enduring well-being of displaced communities. This requires investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic opportunities to foster self-reliance and resilience.

Conclusion

Community development in the context of development-induced displacement is a complex and challenging endeavor that requires a holistic understanding of anthropo-social dynamics. Effectively addressing the needs and aspirations of displaced communities necessitates participatory approaches, respect for cultural diversity, and comprehensive strategies that encompass socio-economic, cultural, and psychological dimensions. By prioritizing the well-being and empowerment of affected communities, we can strive towards more inclusive and sustainable development that leaves no one behind.

References

Aboda, C., Mugagga, F., Byakagaba, P., & Nabanoga, G. (2019). Development induced Displacement; A review of risks faced by communities in developing countries.

Bronen, R. (2013). Climate-induced displacement of Alaska Native communities. Washington DC: Brookings Institution (US).

Draper, J., & McKinnon, C. (2018). The ethics of climate‐induced community displacement and resettlement. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 9(3), e519.

Robinson, W. C. (2003). Risks and rights: The causes, consequences, and challenges of development-induced displacement (Vol. 18). Washington DC: The Brookings Institution.

Sharma, S. N. (2014). Participatory Planning in Plan Preparation. BookCountry.

Vanclay, F. (2017). Project-induced displacement and resettlement: from impoverishment risks to an opportunity for development?. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 35(1), 3-21.

The Refugees

“Taking Mum’s hand, I whispered ‘Are we really safe, here?’ ”
Alwyn Evans (Walk in my Shoes)

Everyone has a right to make his/ her life happy and fruitful but the refugees have to pay a high price for this quality life. The refugees are the most affected people, in today’s globalised world. Refugees are people who are outside their home country because of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. Displacement is a long, lasting reality for most refugees. We need to bring them out of the situation which they face at borders of different countries. We all know that refugees deserve much better treatment on the borders of the countries than they are able to get. Migration has long been part of our human history, but the current Afghan crisis has shown that countries must accept refugees into their sovereign states. Although we all know the countries with refugees have special security but still we are not ready to take responsibility of human. All the countries know the process to bring refugees or displaced people to a stable life in their country. But still one fact is that we are not ready for this responsibility. Why? No one knows, but what all we should know is the way to make refugees’ life stable as readily as possible. Countries have potential to make life better and even best for refugees but the problem is that we are not taking refugees a collective responsibility. But still there are some super ways to help refugees collectively (by different countries).

All the countries should investigate trafficking gangs who exploit refuges and migrants, and put people’s safety above all. Governments also need to stop blaming refugees and migrants for economic and social problems. Even if governments allow refugees to enter their country, they should not treat them as worthless creatures as they are intruders. Opening up safe routes for refugees is one important solution to the problem. When people are assured about their security, they too start feeling safe though they have a lot of crisis in their country related to their country related to their health and housing, yet they have faith in those country members who by giving equal rights and opportunities assure them that they will definitely be able to live comfortable and happy life. Resettlement is vital solution for the most refugees. And whether they travel by land, or by sea, they should be allowed to cross borders, with or without travel documents. Though countries are not forced to make refugees a part of them, still if they allow some of them to enter, they would definitely be one of the countries who appreciate their courage to come out of drastic situations just to ensure good future on their own basis but what all they want is some support of the country and its permission to enter that particular country.

As we all know women are essential part of a family and a nation. The condition of migrant and displayed women has become the worst. Refugee women, who lose their homes, families, husbands, have to face some very devastating situations during migration. They have to go through different critical situations of rape, sexual and physical harassment and violence. Even the girls of five to twelve years of age have to face such unfortunate incidents which haunt them throughout their lives. Women are more required to migrate than men as they have to face more violence than men. Single parent with her children needs to be concerned more. When females try to cross the borders of the other countries, they are locked with men who are unknown to them, which make the situation worse than ever.

All these incidents of misfortune, violence and harassment can be stopped if we all take a collective step against them countries should accept women as their part of the nation. They should make efforts to make women safe, and secure from these kinds of situations. All the countries should make more migration policies for women and children. For women and children, different routes for migration should be made. If their cases are pending, they should be allowed to live in quarters but not with men of other families. If women refugees are being oppressed, their cases should be recognized and they should be given justice. For children, policies like keeping them away from gang exploiters should be formed. Children who get separated from their parents should be kept in safe places. Special security forces should be there to safeguard children and women. So it is not important that whatever we do alone could gain better results, things done collectively are more beneficial for people who are real heroes, who leave their home and nation for betterment, who we call victims of misfortune, “THE REFUGEES”.

What is the issue between Israel and Palestine?

Israel- Palestinian conflict is a currently ongoing conflict between the Jewish Israelis and Arab Palestinians to gain control of the land. The conflict has been a long one. It started when after the British mandate, the country that was occupied by the British was divided into two countries a Jewish country of Israel and an Arab nation of Palestine. During the First World War, the British government has agreed to respect Arab independence but later with the Balfour Declaration which stated that the British government would support a state for the jews. This was the first legal friction between the two self-determined communities. In 1947- 1948, the British forces withdrew from the Mandate Palestine and war broke out, on one side were the Israeli forces and on the other side was the Arab Palestinians and the surrounding Arab countries who supported the Arab Palestinians. The war broke out when the United Nations decided and voted to split region of Palestine into two states, a Jewish state and an Arab state. But the Arab community and the surrounding Arab countries did not accept the plan and the two communities started fighting using guerilla techniques. In the early march of 1948, Israelis had fought and won against the Palestinians in battles.

Later, when the British left the country a fully-fledged war broke out when the Jewish community residing in Palestine declared the formation and initiation of the state of Israel. The Arab nations and the Arab Liberation Army in retaliation attacked Israel. Egypt attacks the southern cost, Syria and Lebanon fought with Israelis in the north. The war had 15,000 casualties and Israel held on to most of the Mandate Palestine, Jordon had occupied west bank region and Egypt takes over the Gaza strip. In the 6 day war of 1967, Israeli toke control of the west bank from Jordan and the Gaza strip from Egypt. This seriously affected the Palestinian nationalism.
Peace efforts were made in the Oslo Accords in 1993, where Arab Palestinians were allowed to come back to Israel to Gaza strip and west bank but these decisions weren’t taken well by both communities. The peace initiatives were opposed and prime minister of Israel Rabin was murdered by a fanatical Israelis man, thus ending the peace talks. Later in 2000, the war of the second Intifada where there was a prolonged conflict between the Israeli and Palestinian sides which ended in 2004-2005. Later, the Israeli government removed itself from the Gaza strip and ended the Israeli occupation in the Gaza strip. The militant group Hamas gained electoral majority as the Palestinian parliamentary elections and Israel issued a notice that the group must follow the Israeli agreements, Hamas rejected the notions. This agreement and military tensions culminated in the battle of Gaza. Hamas took control of the entire Gaza strip . in 2008, Israel government planned an operation called cast lead which leads to many civilians deaths and damage.
This has been the fight for territory by the Israelis and the Palestinians

. Over 7 million Palestinians refugees were and are displaced from their home. Israel refuses to take in the refugees. these refugees seek refuge in Jordan, Lebanon and other neighbouring states. The main reason is the different religions of the two community one being Jewish and the other being Muslim. One of the core problems is its negotiation as both parties are reluctant to conclude this seemingly constant state of violence.

REFUGEES

There are over 79.5 million people who are forcefully displaced from their homes due to persecution, violence, the outbreak of wars or oppressive regimes to find stability, safety or refuge. The united nations describe a refugee as a person who flees their country and is unable to return due to conflict or ongoing persecution. Refugees are divided into internally displaced persons and refugees. Internally displaced persons are much difficult to help as they don’t come under international law and are much difficult to assist. Refugees seek asylum in different countries where are recognized legally as a refugee and they receive legal and material protection.
The 1951 refugee convention is the main legal instrument for refugee law. The 1967 protocol is also used as one of the documents for refugee law. The convention for the first time gave us the definition of a refugee, its legal protection, material assistance and those displaced persons who don’t classify as refugees. The 1967 protocol expanded the range of the definition and legal assistance. The 1989 convention on rights of the child which isn’t particularly for children but was used while dealing with minor refugees, the convention elucidated the rights of children in a country. The African countries follow the organization of African Unity of Convention Governing the Specific Aspect of refugees. In 1984, the Latin American countries signed the convention to follow the Cartagena Declaration of Refugees.
The process of recognition of displaced persons into refugees depends upon the state. Where the country is unwilling to do the process, UNHRC does the process. Refugees entitled to basic human rights where they have right to freedom from degrading treatment, freedom of rights of freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of thought, religion, right to life and liberty, the right to freedom from discrimination on basis of race, colour or gender and more importantly right to asylum. International law also forbids the countries to resettle the refugees in their own country where they may seemingly be persecuted for their race, religion or by a political group. Refugees are required to keep with them all the time a refugee identity certificate which is either issued by the UNHRC or by the state where they are seeking asylum, this is their legal document for identification. All states that have signed the 1951 refugee convention have to provide refugees with the freedom to the process of an identification certificate. Refugees are also issued with a refugee travel document which substitutes as a passport for international travel because they cannot get a passport for their country. According to the convention of 1951 chapter 3, all refugees are allowed to gain legal employment. But the main goal of a refugee is to return home . as most of them leave their own homes in a hurry to escape wars or violence but they can’t due to the rampant violence in their countries. Refugees either stay in camps with little hope of going back to their countries or they move to different camps in different countries trying to gain asylum.
In conclusion, refugees are the world’s most harrowing humanitarian crisis. There are strides taken to protect the rights of the refugees but it has proven to be difficult. Countries who have used to receive refugees have now at their limit. The efforts made by the international bodies and states are recognized but need more innovative methods to deal with it. The influx of refugees have over the years have increased which only means that violence and war in the world have increased with no signs of slowing down.

References

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