2015年-世界发展银行全球_Vulnerability_of_Internally_Displaced_Persons_in_Urban_Settings_8页_600kb

Summary of the Study: Vulnerability of Internally Displaced Persons in Urban Settings

Core Content

This study explores the vulnerability of internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in informal settlements in three urban centers of Afghanistan: Kabul, Herat, and Kandahar. It is part of a broader World Bank research on poverty and focuses on the intersection of displacement, urban growth, and poverty dynamics. The analysis is based on a joint World Bank-UNHCR research project, which aimed to address the knowledge gap regarding the challenges faced by IDPs in urban areas.

Main Findings

1. Characteristics of IDPs in Informal Settlements

• IDPs in urban informal settlements are an extremely deprived segment of the population, even more so than the general urban poor.
• Displacement is driven by both conflict and economic factors, with many IDPs moving to cities seeking better employment and services.
• Over 90% of IDPs plan to settle permanently in urban areas, regardless of ongoing conflict.
• The majority of IDPs are from rural backgrounds, with over 92% originating from rural communities.

2. Economic and Social Integration Challenges

• IDP households often lack the skills and education necessary for successful urban integration.
• Literacy rates among IDP household heads are significantly lower than those of the urban poor: 80% of male IDP heads are illiterate compared to 64% of male urban poor heads.
• Female IDP heads have even lower literacy rates, with only 1% literate versus 33% among urban poor women.

3. Labor Market Outcomes

• IDPs are largely engaged in low-quality, unstable, and unsafe jobs such as construction and daily labor.
• Employment in the private sector is rare for IDPs (only 6%), while urban poor have more diverse employment opportunities, including public sector jobs (11.9%).
• IDP households are more vulnerable to poverty due to limited access to formal employment and economic resources.

4. Income and Livelihood Strategies

• IDP households rely heavily on labor income (42% of total income) and are less likely to have alternative income sources such as loans, credit, or donations.
• Income diversification is critical for IDPs due to the precarious nature of their employment.
• The average IDP household has 9 members, with a dependency ratio of 2 children per adult.

5. Housing and Living Conditions

• Over 60% of IDPs live in tents, temporary shelters, or shacks, with only 40% in single-family houses.
• Tenure security is a major issue, with 85% of IDPs lacking land deeds or formal ownership documentation.
• Access to essential services such as water, electricity, and sanitation is limited in informal settlements, exacerbating deprivation.

6. Food Security

• Food insecurity is significantly higher among IDPs compared to the urban poor.
• Only 7% of IDPs report never facing food shortages, versus 37% of urban poor.
• Food insecurity tends to decline with the length of settlement, possibly due to improved economic conditions and access to social networks.

Key Vulnerabilities

• IDPs face higher risks of poverty due to limited economic opportunities, low literacy, and lack of tenure security.
• Their vulnerability increases during the initial years of displacement, particularly due to lack of social networks and unstable income.
• The growing number of IDPs in urban areas puts pressure on local service providers and infrastructure.

Recommendations

• Move beyond a purely humanitarian approach: Sustainable solutions for IDPs in urban areas are needed, including long-term development interventions.
• Adopt an integrated and comprehensive developmental approach: Policies should address the root causes of displacement and promote urban development with proper planning and resources.
• Strengthen monitoring and coordination: Immediate needs of IDPs should be assessed and addressed, especially in the first two years of displacement.
• Regularize or relocate informal settlements: Government-led initiatives should include guided land subdivisions and settlement upgrading programs to improve living conditions and access to services.
• Enhance stakeholder collaboration: A multi-stakeholder approach involving government ministries, international organizations, civil society, and local communities is essential for effective policy implementation.

Methodology

• The study used two main data sources:
  • An ad-hoc survey of 452 IDP households in three urban areas.
  • A nationally representative sample from the NRVA 2007/08 survey (1,119 households).
• The sample included both qualitative and quantitative data, with case studies and key informant interviews conducted to understand the lived experiences of IDPs.
• The poverty line was defined as 1,253 Afghani per person per month (based on the cost of basic needs approach) for the IDP sample, and 1,776 Afghani per person for urban areas.

Conclusion

The study highlights the complexity of displacement in urban settings and underscores the need for sustainable, integrated, and inclusive policies to address the vulnerabilities of IDPs. It calls for a shift from short-term humanitarian aid to long-term development strategies that promote economic integration, housing security, and access to essential services.