Urban displacement and development: moving the debate forward

On 7-8 February 2013, the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark will hold a conference on urban displacement. The event will bring together development specialists (donors, policy-makers, academics and practitioners) and humanitarian professionals to explore new approaches to addressing the plight of the urban displaced.

Approximately half of the world’s estimated 10.5 million refugees and at least 13 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are thought to live in urban areas. Several high-profile situations of urban displacement have occurred in the last decade including those in Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Yemen and in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

Over the past two years, extensive research has been conducted on the phenomenon of displacement in the urban environment and the implications and challenges for humanitarian action. Through field research in Amman, Damascus, the Gaza Strip, Kabul, Nairobi, Peshawar and Yei HPG’s research project considered the experiences of displaced people, investigated the policy and operational challenges that confront national and international stakeholders when responding to their needs, and offered recommendations for strengthening support to these groups.

If you wish to attend this event or require further details, please contact HPG at hpgadmin@odi.org.uk or 0207 922 0331.