Nothing is more permanent than the temporary – Understanding protracted displacement and people's own responses

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)

Abstract

Across the world, 16 million refugees and an unknown number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) experience long-lasting conditions of economic precarity, marginalization, rightlessness and future uncertainty. They live under conditions of protracted displacement. Policy solutions often fail to recognise displaced people’s needs and limit rather than widen the range of available solutions. This report brings together the central findings of the TRAFIG project’s empirical study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Tanzania, Jordan, Pakistan, Greece, Italy and Germany. We engaged with more than 3,120 people in our three-year project. Our analysis centres around five factors that shape conditions of protracted displacement: governance regimes of aid and asylum social practices and livelihoods networks and movements intergroup relations between displaced people and hosts development incentives and economic interactions We present multiple findings on each of these themes. Moreover, this report addresses gender and class-based differences and mental health related challenges in constellations of protracted displacement as well as political dynamics that impact on people's own responses to protracted displacement. Overall, our research shows that refugees, IDPs and other migrants by and large find protection, shelter, livelihood support, a sense of belonging and opportunities to migrate elsewhere through their personal networks. These networks often stretch across several places or even extend across multiple countries. While they are not a panacea for all challenges, people's own connections are an essential resource for sustainable and long-term solutions to their precarious situation. They must not be ignored in policy responses to protracted displacement. Understanding the needs and the local, translocal and transnational ties of displaced people is the foundation for finding solutions that last.

Authors 16

1. Benjamin Etzold

   BICC - Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies

   Affiliation as printed

   BICC (Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies)

2. Elvan Isikozlu

   BICC - Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies

   Affiliation as printed

   BICC (Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies)

3. Simone Christ

   BICC - Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies

   Affiliation as printed

   BICC (Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies)

4. Laura Moroşanu

   University of Sussex

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Sussex

5. Albert Kraler

   Universität für Weiterbildung Krems

   Affiliation as printed

   Danube University Krems

6. Ferruccio Pastore

   International and European Forum on Migration Research

   Affiliation as printed

   FIERI (Forum of International and European Research on Immigration)

7. Carolien Jacobs Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Leiden

8. Filyra Vlastou‐Dimopoulou

   Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

   Affiliation as printed

   Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

9. Eva Papatzani

   Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

   Affiliation as printed

   Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

10. Alexandra Siotou

    University of Thessaly

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Thessaly

11. Panos Hatziprokopiou

    Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

    Affiliation as printed

    Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

12. Ben Buchenau

    BICC - Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies

    Affiliation as printed

    BICC (Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies)

13. Fawwaz Ayoub Momani

    Yarmouk University

    Affiliation as printed

    Yarmouk University

14. Sarah A.VE Tobin

    Chr. Michelsen Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    CMI (Chr. Michelsen Institute)

15. Tamara Al-Yakoub

    Yarmouk University

    Affiliation as printed

    Yarmouk University

16. Rasheed Al Jarrah

    Yarmouk University

    Affiliation as printed

    Yarmouk University