Resettlement Sites Research Articles

Experiences with the conservation of the Central Asian Tortoise Agrionemys horsfieldii Gray, 1844 during the construction of PV plants in Uzbekistan

The paper describes step-by-step actions to conserve a globally threatened species – the Central Asian Tortoise in the area of construction of PV plant in the Karnabchul steppe of Samarkand region of Uzbekistan. The total area of the solar PV plant is 350 ha. The research was conducted during spring and summer seasons from 2019 to 2022 during the planning and construction phase of this object. Fauna surveys of the project site in 2019 showed that the most abundant reptiles of the project site are the Central Asian Tortoise. A quantitative assessment of the individuals inhabiting the project site and an analysis the risk of planned technogenic impact were carried out in 2020. The likely damage to the turtle population from the installation and construction works was reasonably estimated at 430 individuals. This was a strong argument for postponing full-scale construction works until mid-2021. Preparations for the relocation of living on the project site turtles began in 2020: the design of the fence and the drainage channel profile were agreed to be as safe as possible for the animals; construction of the project site fence began and a 1250 ha relocation site with similar foraging and protection conditions was selected. In spring 2021, 4572 individuals were removed from the project site and relocated to the resettlement area. The necessary precautions were observed. In 2022, the effectiveness of translocating Central Asian tortoises into the contiguous territory was monitored. Population counts were carried out and the sex and age structure of the turtle population in the relocation area was studied. These studies show that the resettlement process has not disturbed the age and sex structure of the Central Asian tortoise in the area and has not resulted in the mortality of even a small number of individuals. The desert areas of Uzbekistan have the highest potential for solar energy development. At the same time, this sector of the economy also poses a potential threat to terrestrial vertebrate species, in particular the Central Asian Tortoise. The described actions on tortoise conservation in the conditions of Uzbekistan were applied for the first time and showed a good result. In our opinion, it can be used in the implementation of subsequent similar projects.

Follow-up supportive policies and risk perception influence livelihood adaptation of anti-poverty relocated households in ethnic mountains of southwest China

The poverty alleviation relocation program (PAR) is a milestone project in breaking spatial poverty traps in ethnic mountainous regions and provides a key solution for eradicating global absolute poverty. As direct participants in the restructuring of environmental and livelihood systems, the livelihood adaptation of relocated households is fundamental to the sustainable development of human-land systems in resettlement sites and the consolidation of the success of poverty alleviation. This research constructs an adaptive integration analysis framework of “external disturbance-adaptation process-adaptation outcome”, by utilizing questionnaire data from relocated households in the Liangshan Yi minority area of Southwest China, and employing a formative structural equation model to investigate the transmission mechanisms and heterogeneous effects of PAR on livelihood adaptation across different resettlement characteristics. The results indicate that: (1) External disturbance of PAR facilitates positive adaptation outcomes, with follow-up supportive policy as the most significant determinant, which contributes directly to adaptation outcomes and indirectly through improved learning and self-organization capacity. Conversely, risk perception has a negative impact on adaptation outcomes and further exacerbates adverse impacts by reducing buffering capacity. (2) The pathways influencing subjective and objective adaptation outcomes demonstrate heterogeneity. PAR has a positive impact on subjective adaptation, but a non-significant effect on objective adaptation, self-organization capacity and buffering capacity are the most important direct drivers and mediating variables affecting both, respectively. (3) Resettlement characteristics exert a moderating effect on livelihood adaptation. The positive effect of follow-up supportive policy on learning capacity and the marginal contribution of learning capacity to adaptative strategies being greater in mid-to-long-term resettlements. Buffering capacity of village resettlements and subjective adaptation of town resettlements are more beneficial from follow-up supportive policy.

How the establishment of community organizations can help improve newly resettled residential sites: A case study from the post-tsunami disaster in Japan

Establishing community organizations at newly resettled residential sites after a disaster is crucial because the management of the living environment and social communication are highly dependent on it, and are linked to social capital. However, depending on how people decide and choose to live, newly resettled residential sites influence the establishment of community organizations, namely, residents’ associations (RAs), in Japan. This study aims to understand these processes, including the successes and difficulties people have experienced before and after settling in their new homes. Interview surveys were conducted with residents and local government officials in charge of residential planning, community establishment, and the support division. Additionally, questionnaire surveys were conducted at three study sites. Consequently, some newly resettled sites were able to have a discussion when selecting the potential resettled sites; most people were essentially from the same original sites, were neighbors, and lived in the same temporary houses where they had already built up bonding social capital. These people established a core group and were able to coordinate with locally elected prefectural or city council members to reach out to city planners to participate in several decision-making processes for the newly resettled sites and houses, which link social capital. However, in some communities, people were gathered from different areas for many reasons, such as losing lottery selections at other sites, preferably selecting a location far away from the seashore, preferring to live with pets, and disadvantaged people who were not able to respond in a timely manner to lottery selection. In these areas, people had more difficulties establishing a new community organization because they had difficulty establishing bonds. Moreover, since this group of people is not able to participate in the decision-making stage of newly resettled sites, selection, and building-type planning, they are simply accepted as planned, which means that they lack both bonding and linking social capital. Each new settlement has different houses and residents, making it unique. Encouraging and recognizing community organization activities and the core group built up in the community must be involved from the very early stages of settlement planning. Both bonding and linking social capital are necessary for a smooth settlement plan. Since establishing RAs can help improve their living environment and plays an important role, consideration needs to be given when a new resettlement site is planned, involving a core group that knows each other to smooth the process.

The Participation of Street Food Sellers in Formulating the Policy of Revitalizing the Tegal’s Town Square Area as the Effort to Improve the Opened Green Zone

This research determined the participation of street food sellers in formulating and issuing the policy and determined the hindering factors of revitalization policy in the town square area of Tegal as the effort to improve the opened green zone. This descriptive qualitative research describes a variable in the form of spoken data from the informants and the observed behaviors of the informants. The researchers collected the data by interviewing the civil service police officers, the public work service and spatial planning, the cooperation of SME and trading, the housing and residential department, and the association of street food sellers; documenting; and studying the works of literature. The results found many regional government organizations participated in the formulation of revitalization policy. Then, they took the responsibility directly to the major of Tegal as the policy- maker of revitalizing the town square area of Tegal. The revitalization ran successfully. The government socialized the policy systematically and involved various actors including the street food sellers. However, from the eight socialization stage meetings for the street food sellers, only three socialization stages involved and coordinated with the street food sellers. The three meetings shared the divisions and relocation sites of the sellers, instruction, and empowerment. The revitalization of the green town square area also encountered some hindrances, such as limited socialization, lack of street seller confidence, and less representative relocated sites.

Influencing Factors of Peasant Households’ Willingness to Relocate to Concentrated Residences in Mountainous Areas: Evidence from Rural Southwest China

Relocating poor people in mountainous areas to centralized settlement sites is an important poverty alleviation policy implemented by China and a key measure to promote stable poverty alleviation and sustainable rural development for the poor. Based on the survey data of 405 peasant households in the Panxi Area in 2021, this study constructed a structural equation model (SEM) to explore the influencing factors of peasant households’ willingness to relocate to a concentrated residence. The results showed the following: (1) Of the 405 peasant households surveyed, 20.98% were unwilling to move to centralized resettlement sites, making it more difficult to carry out the relocation policy for poverty alleviation. (2) Living environment, living conditions, important social groups, the economic benefits, living benefits, and survival benefits brought by concentrated residences, governments, and the village committees significantly influenced the willingness to relocate to a concentrated residence. In contrast, agricultural income, ecological benefits, and value benefits brought by the concentrated residence had little effect on the willingness to relocate to a concentrated residence. (3) Land force, human force, cognitive force, and national force significantly positively affected the peasant households’ willingness to relocate to a concentrated residence. This study is of great significance in promoting the implementation of poverty alleviation and relocation policy, improving the efficiency of relocation and promoting the wellbeing of peasant households.

Reviewing the reportage of land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement issues in mainstream Indian Media

The study is based on the articles published in the leading news websites on land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement (LARR) in India and highlights the need of proper structuring and streamlining of the reportage. The study reveals how most news articles reporting the plights of the people fail to uncover their long term issues like degradation of living conditions at the resettlement site, livelihood loss, negative social impacts, and disregard of gendered issues. This paper contains a quantitative and qualitative thematic analysis of media articles published on the subject of LARR in India over the span of five years. The study derives how media has made conscious efforts to report in support of affected people by mentioning the compensation and land losses they face. However, the desired effect is hindered by lack of consideration of existing imbalance in power dynamics and reporting according to it.

Stabilization and Remediation of Arsenic-Contaminated Soil: Fly Ash-Based Technology for Industrial Site Restoration

Arsenic contamination of various environmental components poses a serious threat to human and animal health. Soil As contamination is particularly hazardous, as soil is a vital pathway to the food chain. We conducted experiments on soil from a typical pharmaceutical and chemical industry relocation site in Hubei Province, focusing on modification using fly ash through mechanical and chemical mechanisms. We subjected varying proportions of lime, ferrous sulfate, and fly ash to mechanical ball milling and used these mixtures to perform remediation of arsenic-contaminated soil and site restoration. Our findings are as follows: in soil culture experiments, the As stabilization efficiency reached 90% within 90 days with ferrous salt-modified fly ash. In actual site restoration, As-stabilization efficiency exceeded 95% across different soil depths within 30 days, demonstrating significant stabilization effects. Optimal modified dosages were determined as 2% ferrous sulfate and 2% fly ash. After stabilization, As in the soil primarily existed in amorphous iron-aluminum oxide-bound (F3) and crystalline iron-aluminum oxide-bound (F3 + F4) and residual (F5) states. Fluctuations in the moisture content and pH mainly activated F3 and F4, transitioning them into exchangeable (F1) and surface-adsorbed (F2) states. Arsenic leaching was predominantly associated with the F1 form. Fly ash-based restoration technology demonstrates promising capabilities in waste treatment and pollution control, offering significant potential for widespread application.

Challenges, Capabilities, and Proposed Initiatives for Capacity-building among Shelter Beneficiaries in Davao City, Philippines: A Case Study

Shelter programs stand out as powerful drivers of development, recognizing the rights of the urban beneficiaries in determining their well-being. This study emphasizes the Davao City Shelter Code as the nation’s pioneering local government-led shelter code initiative. The research utilizes a grounded theory approach, as it is well-suited for understanding complex, emerging phenomena within the shelter program and the challenges experienced by shelter beneficiaries. The study employed theoretical sampling and snowball sampling techniques to collect data while analyzing the challenges shelter beneficiaries face through an in-depth case study. For this purpose, 27 key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted alongside 34 focus group discussions (FGDs) at four different resettlement sites. The findings underscore challenges linked to loss of livelihood due to displacement, skills training mismatch, and insufficient leadership skills experienced by the shelter beneficiaries. Despite these challenges, these shelter beneficiaries have illustrated their capabilities to start income-generating exercises with assurance to outlive, regularly with bolster from NGOs and private companies. Moreover, the inquiry recognizes proposed activities for capacity-building to improve protection conditions and advance the well-being of the recipients by and large. Finally, the researchers developed a model for the shelter program that outlines the steps that link challenges, capacity-building social resources, and autonomous well-being, ultimately leading to the creation of the ‘shelter-space model’. This model emphasizes sustainable networks and community development initiatives to improve living conditions, prevent dependency, and ensure active involvement among the shelter beneficiaries in Davao City, Philippines.

Government relocation and air pollution: Evidence from China

In the pursuit of sustainable economic development, many cities have initiated the relocation of government offices as a strategy to optimize resource allocation. This study examines the environmental impacts of local government relocations in China between 1999 and 2016, with a focus on PM2.5 concentration data in the areas surrounding the relocation sites. Utilizing a difference-in-differences estimation approach, our findings indicate that (1) relocating local government offices significantly reduces pollution levels in nearby areas, with more pronounced effects closer to the relocation site; (2) environmental quality improvements intensify over time before stabilizing; (3) the relocation reform enhances the overall environmental quality of the entire city; and (4) government site relocations ultimately lead to regional environmental quality improvements by fostering the development of clean industries and reducing industrial pollution emissions. These results underscore the policy significance of green development principles and the spatial optimization of public resources.

Strategic relocation and sustainable redevelopment of Ain El-Sira: A comprehensive approach to slum improvement in Egypt

This study takes a close look at slum areas in Egypt, focusing specifically on Ain El-Sira. According to the Informal Settlements Development Fund (ISDF), slums are classified into unplanned and unsafe areas. Ain El-Sira is identified as an unsafe slum area, demanding relocation due to its risky living conditions. The aim of this research is to develop a comprehensive and sustainable relocation strategy for Ain El-Sira residents. The study includes detailed social and urban surveys to understand the needs of the community. Utilizing SWOT analysis and a TWOS matrix, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of relocating Ain El-Sira residents are evaluated. Three potential relocation sites are examined for their advantages and disadvantages, considering factors such as infrastructure, accessibility, and social impact. After a thorough analysis of these sites, the best site is chosen and designed through three master plan alternatives incorporating active, passive, and traditional techniques. The key findings of these alternatives were assessed to provide a balanced approach to improving living conditions and ensuring sustainability for Ain El-Sira residents. The main problem is identifying a suitable relocation site that meets the residents' needs and offers long-term benefits. This study contributes to the field of urban redevelopment both theoretically and practically by providing a strategic framework for slum relocation and redevelopment. The findings underscore the importance of integrating diverse architectural techniques to create a master plan that addresses immediate needs while promoting sustainable, long-term urban development.

The path of social integration of migrants in poverty alleviation relocation: A case study of dongchuan from Yunnan plateau mountainous areas

Poverty eradication is a critical objective of the Un 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China's Poverty Alleviation Relocation (PAR) has made positive contributions to global poverty alleviation. The success of PAR depends on identifying factors affecting migrants' intentions to move and understanding their lives post-PAR, which is usually ignored in the literature. Therefore, based on the social integration theory, this study adopts a structural equation modeling framework to empirically explore the social integration process of PAR migrants using the sample data sourced from a survey on the resettlement site in Yunnan province, China. The results show that the social integration of PAR migrants goes through the path of economic integration, community integration, and psychological integration, where community and social support help migrants to transition from improving economic standards of living to finding a place attachment and being a member of the new community. The empirical evidence indicates policymakers should consider providing support for PAR migrants to participate in community activities and engage with residents to gain social capital for them to adapt to the new community.

Hungarian Refugees in the United Kingdom in the Context of the Domestic Policy (1956–1957)

After the suppression of the 1956 uprising in Hungary, a large group of political refugees, most of them young and often highly skilled professionals, left for the West. Most of the refugees fled to Austria. Austria immediately called on countries to help both financially and physically by resettling the refugees. Most of the refugees were very quickly resettled in other countries. These facts stand in stark contrast to contemporary resettlement practice, which is characterized by a shortage of resettlement sites and a small number of resettlement countries. The scarcity of jobs and the peculiarities of the migration policies of some countries (e.g., the United Kingdom) meant that some refugees could not find a long-term place in European countries and therefore sought refuge overseas. In 1956 and 1957, Canada took in more than 37,500 Hungarian refugees. The United States was also a more common c Hungarian Refugees in the United Kingdom in the Context hoice for refugees than the United Kingdom, for example.

The End of Inclusive Resettlement: Experiencing Unaffordability within State Housing Programmes in Salé, Morocco

Since the early 2000s, Morocco’s government is running the Villes Sans Bidonville programme (VSBP) as a literal reference to international policy claims for Cities Without Slums. Initially and in contrast to past, unsuccessful attempts to eradicate the country’s bidonvilles, more inclusive resettlement schemes – participatory and affordable for all – should help to avoid that residents resell resettlement housing and move back to bidonvilles. However, this article shows that with the advancement of VSBP, more recent resettlement has become authoritarian, exclusionary, and unaffordable again. Large numbers of low-income households of one of Rabat/Salé’s last bidonvilles are effectively excluded from accessing resettlement housing, because they cannot afford the construction of a house on their assigned resettlement plot. For many, reselling their plot is the only option to access alternative housing after displacement. Building on narrative and biographic interviews with displaced former bidonville residents who are not living at the resettlement site, this article looks at how displaced bidonville dwellers cope with housing unaffordability. Where do people move why if affordable informal housing is demolished and state-subsidised alternatives are inaccessible? The results show how unaffordable resettlement schemes divide established bidonville communities, leaving the most vulnerable residents behind. Furthermore, they highlight people’s severe constraints, struggles, and uncertainties in seeking to achieve decent residential stability outside stressful rental accommodation.

Persistent Vulnerability after Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Response: The Case of Salgar, Colombia

Community-based disaster management (CBDM) has replaced traditional models of disaster risk reduction (DRR), giving the community a more participatory role in the planning and implementation of risk mitigation and preparedness strategies, disaster response, and post-disaster recovery measures. This shift in disaster response approaches has impacted understandings of vulnerability and resilience, leading scholars and policy makers to move away from a physical definition of vulnerability and to incorporate social variables. However, in Colombia, a traditional DRR approach still prevails. The National Risk Management Policy employs a top-down approach to risk reduction and disaster management, relying on the action of governmental authorities without community participation in the design or implementation of risk management planning and strategy. This article reveals the deficiencies of traditional DRR approaches. The Colombian government’s post-disaster resettlement project after a 2015 landslide in Salgar, Antioquia that resulted in 98 people dead or missing did not contribute to the reduction of vulnerability for the resettled community. To accurately measure post-disaster vulnerability and resilience, a new holistic model of indicators that includes both social and biophysical variables that illustrate and measure the relevance of preexisting vulnerabilities was developed. Local data was collected through 178 surveys administered to the inhabitants of Salgar’s three post-disaster resettlement sectors—La Habana, La Florida, and Las Margaritas—to construct an accurate picture of the populations affected by the disaster. Our results show that in the case of Salgar, social vulnerabilities persist even in the physical components of the resettlement sites where new infrastructure would be expected to reduce hazardous conditions and exposure to risk.

Effects of food waste biogas residue composting on soil aggregates and its organic matter content in relocation site

Understanding the effects of food waste biogas residue composting and chemical amendments on soil aggregates composition of different particle sizes, stability, and organic matter distribution in relocation sites could provide primary data for improving soil quality and land utilization of food waste biogas residue composting. We analyzed the characteristics of soil aggregates distribution, stability of aggregates, and organic matter content in different particle sizes under treatments with different application amounts of food waste biogas residue composting, chemical amendments (β-cyclodextrin, calcium sulfate and ferric oxide were mixed at a mass ratio of 1:1:1), and control (100% soil). The results showed that 20% (soil: biogas residue composting=8:2) and 30% (soil: biogas residue composting =7:3) biogas residue composting significantly decreased the micro-aggregates content with the particle size of <0.106 mm and increased the large aggregates content with the particle size of 0.5-1.0 mm. All treatments significantly increased large aggregates content with the particle size of ≥2.0 mm, soil aggregate structure content, and mean weight diameter, but reduced the percentage of aggregate destruction. Among all the treatments, the effect of mixes application of 20% biogas residue composting and chemical amendments was the best. Biogas residue composting treatments significantly affected the distribution of organic matter in soil aggregates, with the strongest effect under 30% biogas residue composting treatment. Biogas residue composting treatments significantly increased soil organic matter content in all aggregates, with the maximal increase of organic matter content in soil micro-aggregates with the particle size of 0.106-0.25 mm. In conclusion, biogas residue composting could increase organic matter content of soil aggregates in different particle sizes, promote the formation of large soil aggregates, and improve the stability of aggregation. Specifically, the mixed application of biogas residue composting and chemical amendments performed better on soil improvement in relocation site.

Empty pantries: The death of survival myths among typhoon Haiyan survivors in resettlement sites during COVID-19

Research has shown that globally, people often rely on their social networks to survive and recover from crises and disasters. This phenomenon has also been seen in the Philippines, a nation well-acquainted with disasters. This paper will look at the role social capital has played in the survival of an understudied and vulnerable group in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic - the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Typhoon Yolanda) living in resettlement sites north of Tacloban City. Using a qualitative approach to analysis 357 household surveys of resettlement site residents across Tacloban City, we argue that the myth of social capital as a lifeline for Filipinos in times of disaster does not necessarily apply to Haiyan survivors in resettlement sites during the pandemic. The paper finds that respondents’ relational social capital is imbalanced, with Haiyan survivors relying mainly on themselves or their bonding ties like close family members for financial assistance during the pandemic. The lack of diversity in their relational social capital in turn impacts their ability to survive and recover from COVID-19. Meanwhile, the relevance of collective social capital among respondents during the pandemic is not clear either – participants see value in engaging in mutual support initiatives (i.e., bayanihan) and share relatively strong relationships with some members of their community but also possess low levels of trust toward fellow resettlement site residents.

Scaling low-income housing delivery in Kenya and the Philippines: community participation and livelihoods outcomes

The intersection of community participation and livelihoods for the urban poor who move into formalised, low-income housing is the focus of this paper. Drawing on case studies from the Philippines and Kenya, and working with Real Equity for All (Reall) and their partners, we critically examine the dynamic changes to communities moving into new housing funded through the Community-Led Infrastructure Financing Facility (CLIFF) programme of affordable homebuilding. The two contexts contrast different levels of community involvement, savings practices and scales of housing construction. We explore how at-scale construction of low-income housing may mean communities feel more disengaged, whilst noting the challenges of fuller participation. We find that moves to both in situ housing and peri-urban relocation sites have mixed and complex impacts on livelihoods, although livelihood changes are balanced by beneficiaries against quality of life. Construction itself generates work, but direct and indirect community benefits are not straightforward. Our findings fill an important gap in research evidence, addressing how communities and livelihoods change as low-income home builders seek to achieve scale, and how notions of community are generated and reconstituted through savings and homebuilding processes.

To Resist is to Survive: Lived Experiences of the Untenured Migrants in the Watershed Protected Areas

Many watersheds in the country are being occupied by untenured settlers who are not aware of the danger it will cause to our protected areas. Watershed provides a “well-balanced” system. Healthy watersheds also offer commercially viable natural resources (such as wood and non-wood products) and water for residential, agricultural, and industrial applications, well- maintained and balanced watersheds also provide environmental services. Furthermore, watersheds act as homes for different kinds of plants and animals. This study is qualitative research which delved into the experiences and struggles of occupants of informal settlers, within the Olongapo Watershed Forest Reserve, which is reflected in the results and discussion. Results and findings were discussed by forming themes and meanings elicited from informants’ responses. The study revealed that participants chose to stay in the protected area because of the demands of their job, access to basic services, and poverty. People were drawn to occupy the watershed protected areas because they could not afford a decent house to call their own. Furthermore, illegal occupants and DENR representatives face inherent problems due to a lack of knowledge and strict implementation of certain policies, which explains why these tenants continue to stay in the said location. It is also fascinating that, considering the tenants’ anxieties brought by the threat of termination or eviction, they still hope that the government will give them consideration to have a full legal right to own a piece of land from the protected area or give them justifiable relocation sites where they can start anew. On the other hand, while it is difficult for them to grasp the reality of the consequences of living there, they are all open to dialogue and prepared to follow the rule of law. In addition, the government must set the proper conditions and benefits for the informal settlers to have a successful peaceful and humane manner of relocating informal settlers if they want to conserve and protect the OWFR.

Housing recovery and community relocation: Lessons learned from indigenous community recovery after typhoon Morakot in Taiwan

Modern states have been concerned with helping Indigenous communities recover after disasters, often through relocation, to prevent future disasters. However, such strategies are often fraught with difficulty and challenges. This study uses qualitative and quantitative data collected over a decade after Typhoon Morakot to analyze how the Han-People-dominated Taiwanese government assisted Indigenous communities in off-site disaster recovery. According to this study, post-disaster recovery programs had to be implemented speedily and comprehensively within the constraints of time and institutions, resulting in a lack of Indigenous participation and difficulty meeting the recovery needs of Indigenous communities in various ways. Notwithstanding Indigenous communities’ use of social capital to fight for and secure external resources. In early stages, Indigenous communities protested government policies through internal community bonding, bridging among affected Indigenous communities, and linking with national NGOs to raise awareness regarding recovery issues. In later stages, the government collaborated with communities that were relocated to address recovery issues. However, if relocation sites and housing options are already determined, only partial improvements can be made without resolving the primary problems of livelihood and cultural preservation. This situation calls for the promotion of pre-impact recovery planning in Indigenous communities at risk of disasters.

“Village market” formation and livelihood conundrums among displaced rural Zimbabwean flood victims

PurposeThe primacy of commerce in livelihood security cannot be overstated. However, in a rural context defined by involuntary socio-ecological displacement, commerce can assume a sociologically distinct character, with far-reaching implications. Based on first-hand encounters with victims of the devastating 2014 flood in Tokwe-Mukorsi, Zimbabwe, this paper analyses how the processes of “recreating” village markets in the resettlement site of Chingwizi impacted the victims’ experiences of resource provisioning and livelihood security.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data were collected through 10 in-depth interviews, 10 key informant interviews and two focus group discussions, five years into the flood victims’ resettlement in Chingwizi. The data analysis focused on the dynamics around the recreation of village markets, and the consequences of this on the household economic standing of the resettled flood victims.FindingsThe paper reveals how the formation of village markets in Chingwizi was influenced not primarily by the ethno-commercial and ethno-economic impulses reminiscent of life in their ancestral home but mostly by new, disruptive dynamics and challenges unique to the resettlement site. The paper elucidates the constellation of factors that, together, exacerbated the flood victims’ overall socio-economic dislocation and disadvantage.Originality/valueThe study provides a systematic understanding of the dynamics of ethno-commerce, particularly on the evolution of village market activities and livelihoods, among Zimbabwe’s Chingwizi community over a period of five years into their resettlement. It brings to the fore, the often ignored, but significant nuances that 'village market' formation and livelihoods recreation takes in a resettlement context.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-09-2023-0682