Approaches to Strengthen the Social Cohesion between Displaced and Host Communities

Chathuranganee Jayakody,Dilanthi Amaratunga,Chamindi Malalgoda,Emlyn Witt,Champika Liyanage,Mo Hamza,Nishara Fernando,Richard Haigh

doi:10.3390/su14063413

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.

Highlights

IntroductionDisplaced communities can be described as groups of people whose houses, properties, sources of livelihood, and belongings have been devastated, and who have no option but to relocate to other communities for safety, resettlement, or both [1]
As evident from the literature (Section 1), social cohesion does not limit to the alleviation of social tension
It was found that satisfactory provision of basic services and facilities to the displaced without limiting the ability of the host communities is a fundamental requirement in social cohesion in the displacement context

Summary

Introduction

Displaced communities can be described as groups of people whose houses, properties, sources of livelihood, and belongings have been devastated, and who have no option but to relocate to other communities for safety, resettlement, or both [1]. Displacement is not a new phenomenon to the world; it has been occurring throughout history with diversity in context, frequency, and magnitude. The European region has a long history of displacement and historical diversity. Soviet–Hungarian armed conflict in 1956 resulted in 180,000 Hungarians fleeing to Austria and another 20,000 to Yugoslavia [2].

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Conclusion