OUP accepted manuscript

Abstract

Evacuations are a recognised form of displacement but have been largely overlooked in the forced migration literature. This is curious, given that many of the 33.4 million new internal displacements in 2019 were pre-emptive evacuations. This article examines the nature of evacuations in the context of disasters and climate change and suggests some reasons for the research gap. One reason may be the lack of clarity between pre-emptive evacuations, on the one hand, and arbitrary displacement, on the other – with the former often regarded as a proactive, positive means of moving people out of harm’s way. Another reason may be that many academics writing about displacement want to produce “policy-relevant research”, and if policymakers do not prioritise categories of inquiry, such as “evacuations”, then researchers may overlook them as well. In the disaster displacement context, the three-pronged typology of displacement, migration, and planned relocation – used in key instruments and policymaking processes – has also been adopted by academics. Evacuations have not featured as a standalone area of inquiry. Further conceptual and empirical analysis would help to ensure that evacuations are “seen” in their own right, and that operational responses are better tailored to protection needs.