Approaches to Strengthen the Social Cohesion between Displaced and Host Communities

Chathuranganee Jayakody, Chamindi Malalgoda, Dilanthi Amaratunga, Richard Haigh, Champika Liyanage, Emlyn Witt, Mo Hamza and Nishara Fernando
Additional contact information
Chathuranganee Jayakody: Global Disaster Resilience Centre, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK
Chamindi Malalgoda: Global Disaster Resilience Centre, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK
Dilanthi Amaratunga: Global Disaster Resilience Centre, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK
Richard Haigh: Global Disaster Resilience Centre, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK
Champika Liyanage: School of Engineering, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK
Emlyn Witt: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Tallinn University of Technology, 12616 Tallinn, Estonia
Mo Hamza: Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety, Lund University, Box 117, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
Nishara Fernando: Social Policy Analysis and Research Centre, University of Colombo, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: A cohesive society is not only characterised by the availability of basic services and facilities, but also promotes economic equality and inclusion, democracy, and social solidarity. Forced displacement due to disasters and conflict constantly disrupt the path to a sustainable and cohesive society. Displaced communities often struggle with a lack of access to livelihood and a lack of financial independence and social and family stability. With these challenges, a lack of provision of basic services and facilities will create a competition for housing, health, and education between the displaced and host communities. Additionally, the economic competition for jobs and the role of international aid in terms of fairness create social tension between the displaced and the host. Likewise, multiple aspects weaken the social cohesion between displaced and host communities. Within this context, we investigated approaches to enhance social cohesion following disaster-induced and conflict-induced displacement. With the identification of this research need, the research team of the project titled REGARD (REbuild-inG AfteR Displacement) conducted 47 in-depth interviews in four partner countries (U.K., Sweden, Estonia, and Sri Lanka) with community representatives, social support networks, agency networks, officials, etc. Moreover, focus group discussions were conducted with community members in Sri Lanka. The collected data were analysed through a qualitative data analysis procedure. The findings present eight approaches to strengthen the social cohesion between displaced and host communities. These eight approaches include the adequate provision of basic services and facilities without limiting the capacity of the host, support services aimed at local integration, economic integration between the displaced and host, and social cohesion through the built environment.

Keywords: social cohesion; conflict-induced displacements; disaster-induced displacements; resilience; resettlement planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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