Thriving to Survive: Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons in Sululta Town of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
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Date
2020-03
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
study deals with Internal Displacement. It aimed at examining the socio-economic condition, livelihood strategies, challenges, occupational and residential aspiration as well as the resettlement process of the internally displaced persons settled in Luuguu Settlement Site located in Sululta Town of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were employed to collect and analyze the data needed to address the aforementioned objectives. Accordingly, 208 survey questionnaires were administered to the household heads of the internally displaced persons. Additionally, one key informant interview was conducted with a government official from the town administration who was responsible for coordinating the displaced persons. To add up, four separate in-depth interviews were conducted with two female and two male household heads. To further triangulate the data, two separate focus group discussions were conducted with male and female household heads as well. Moreover, observation was also used to gather data. The study found that the socio-economic conditions of the internally displaced persons have drastically dropped. The livelihood strategies of the households did also dropped from high income-generating activities to low income-generating activities. The major challenges identified by the households were inadequate public toilet facility followed by inadequate clothing and food relief, joblessness, uncomfortable housing, and inefficient flood control system. Insufficiency of financial resources was identified as a major challenge to the government. The majority of the households’ occupational aspiration was to engage in merchandise. Likewise, the majority of the households’ residential aspiration was to integrate into the host community rather than relocate or return to the place of origin. The process of the resettlement program was found to be participatory. The households were engaged in the planning and decision making of the resettlement program through their representatives. Furthermore, the resettlement process was found to be voluntary in its nature and process. All of the impoverishment risks, except homelessness, identified by Carnea’s Impoverishment Risk and Reconstruction Model were reportedly faced by the internally displaced persons. Despite expected impoverishments due to displacement, the study revealed that the resettlement program had successfully averted the risk of homelessness.
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Internal Displacement, Livelihood, Aspiration, Resettlement Process, Ethiopia