Preventive Resettlement of Populations at Risk of Disaster - GFDRR

Chapter 2
Resettlement as a Disaster Risk
Reduction Measure: Case studies
By Elena Correa
1. Preventive Resettlement
Preventive resettlement of populations located in
high-risk areas is a corrective measure in which all or
part of a community is relocated because of the high
risk of disaster. Such a measure should be seen as a last
resort, when it is impossible to mitigate risk factors associated,
for example, with landslides, the likelihood
of volcanic eruptions, or severe flooding that cannot
be controlled.
In such cases, its pertinence and viability depends on
how well it is incorporated into a comprehensive riskreduction
strategy. The decision to resettle must be supported
by technical and risk-assessment studies and be
built into land-use planning strategies.
In addition to reducing risk, resettlement may also present
an opportunity to improve the standard of living of
vulnerable groups in high-risk areas. In such cases, it
constitutes a progressive-corrective measure in which
action is taken to address not only exposure to existing
risk but also the factors underlying vulnerability.
Further, resettlement may be considered part of a landuse
planning strategy, when it is assessed that a community’s
socio-economic development may negatively
impact the local ecosystem and trigger new natural hazards
(e.g., communities established in areas designated
only for forests). 1 In such cases, resettlement could be
described as a prospective risk-management measure
intended to preempt a propensity to future risk.
2. The Benefits of Preventive
Resettlement
Resettlement of people living in high-risk areas can
eliminate the costs associated with emergency responses
and reconstruction. Indeed, loss of life, infrastructure
and assets, as well as other damages, can all be diminished
in both monetary and non-monetary terms,
as described below:
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Human life. By resettling those living in high-risk
areas, it is possible to prevent the direct impact
and costs of a disaster in terms of human lives and
injuries. Moreover, indirect impacts and costs are
also avoided, not only for those exposed to risk
but also for society as a whole.
Infrastructure. Preventive resettlement cannot
avoid the direct monetary costs associated with
rebuilding structures after a disaster (e.g houses,
institutional buildings, factories, and public and
private facilities) because they must be replaced
or rehabilitated. However, indirect monetary
costs and non-monetary costs may be avoided.
For example, shelters will not have to be built
1
See Chapter 13: “Relocation” (Reubicaciones) in: Disaster Risk
Management Today: Global Context, Local Tools. ISDR, 2008
(Author: Wilches-Chaux).
Chapter 2 Resettlement as a Disaster Risk Reduction Measure: Case Studies
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