Abstract
ABSTRACT Background Forced evictions are common in conflict-affected settings. More than 500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are evicted daily in Mogadishu. Context specific research is necessary to inform responsive humanitarian interventions and to monitor the effective- ness of these interventions on IDPs health. Objective This study explored the causes of forced evictions and their health impacts among IDPs in southern Somalia. Methods We used a qualitative approach, conducting 20 semi-structured interviews, six key informant interviews and four focus group discussions. We used maximum variation sampling to include a wide range of participants and used the framework approach and Nvivo software to analyse the data. Results In this context, landlords often rented land without proper tenure agreements, resulting in risk of forced evictions. Informal tenure agreements led to fluctuations in rent, and IDPs were evicted because tenancy laws were inadequate and failed to protect their rights. IDP settlements often increased the value of land by clearing scrub, and landlords often sought to profit from this by evicting IDPs at short notice if a buyer was found for the land. The effect of eviction on an already marginalised population was wide ranging, increasing their exposure to violence, loss of assets, sexual assault, disruption of livelihoods, loss of social networks, and family separation. Evicted IDPs reported health issues such as diarrhoea, malaria, pneumonia, measles and skin infections, as well as stress, anxiety, psychological distress and trauma. Conclusion Forced evictions remain one of the biggest challenges for IDPs as they exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. Prioritizing implementation of legal protection for IDP tenure rights is necessary to prevent unlawful evictions of IDPs. Humanitarian agencies should aim to respond more effectively to protect evictees and provide support to prevent poor health outcomes. Further quantitative research is needed to examine the relationship between forced evictions and health outcomes.
Highlights
Forced evictions are common in conflict-affected settings
We present our findings on the factors affecting forced eviction and their social and health impacts using our conceptual framework (Figure 2)
The lack of tenancy laws and formal tenure agree ment system made internally displaced persons (IDPs) feel threatened with forced eviction, and made them vulnerable to recurrent forced evictions
Summary
Forced evictions are common in conflict-affected settings. More than 500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are evicted daily in Mogadishu. Context specific research is necessary to inform responsive humanitarian interventions and to monitor the effectiveness of these interventions on IDPs health. Informal tenure agreements led to fluctuations in rent, and IDPs were evicted because tenancy laws were inadequate and failed to protect their rights. Prioritizing implementation of legal protection for IDP tenure rights is necessary to prevent unlawful evictions of IDPs. Humanitarian agencies should aim to respond more effectively to protect evictees and provide support to prevent poor health outcomes. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, which was established in 1998 as part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), is a leading source of data and analysis on internal displacement It estimates that globally, by the end of 2019, 45.7 million people were displaced within their own countries by armed conflict, violence and human rights violations [7]. Displacement combined with the threat of eviction and forced eviction has severe health effects on affected populations
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