From Responsibility to Response: Assessing National - Brookings

CHAPTER 1 Assessing National Approaches to Internal Displacement: Findings from 15 Countries
the UN Development Programme, the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asian
Disaster Preparedness Center and NGOs, developed
the Myanmar Action Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction
2009–015 in 2009. While the plan does not discuss
displacement, it aims to make Myanmar more disaster
resilient, articulating projects to meet the commitments
under the Hyogo Framework for Action and ASEAN
Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency
Response. One of the core components of the action
plan is community-based disaster risk reduction, which
was identified as an immediate need in the Myanmar
Action Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction 2009–2015 and
is recognized in the plan as being key to any disaster
management strategy: “Communities are not only
first responders to disasters but also understand local
hazards and resources and are in the best position to
execute immediate rescue and relief actions.” 46 Among
related initiatives are development of a communitybased
disaster risk-reduction policy in a process led by
the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement
(MoSWRR) with an interministerial task force; developing
a national program on community-based disaster
risk reduction led by the MoSWRR; promoting community
volunteerism and establishing “community-based
disaster risk-reduction resource centers” in a process
led by the Planning Department under the Ministry of
National Planning and Economic Development with
the Department of Social Welfare, the Department
of Health, Fire Services, the Relief and Resettlement
Department, Myanmar Red Crescent Society and
local disaster preparedness committees. The other
components of the action plan are policy, institutional
arrangements and further institutional development;
hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment; multi-hazard
early warning systems; preparedness and response programs
at national, state/division, district and township
levels; mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction into
46 Government of the Union of Myanmar, Ministry of Social
Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Department Myanmar
Action Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction 2009–2015, (www.
adpc.net).
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development work; and public awareness, education
and training.
The Post-Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan includes
strategies to address displacement caused by the
cyclone, including through shelters and relocation settlements,
livelihoods, and land tenure security, noting
that “[t]hose who have been displaced following the
cyclone need support and protection.” The plan notes
that for the displaced who are unable to return, relocation
settlements require careful planning and adequate
investment in order “to minimize risks associated with
their resettlement.” “Displaced persons” are recognized
as a priority for the shelter and settlement sector: “activities
[of the sector] include the identification of vulnerable
groups (including displaced persons) and prioritization
for shelter assistance (and durable solutions
for the displaced).”
Conclusion
Particularly since the Guiding Principles on Internal
Displacement were published in 1998, there has been
a proliferation of government policies on IDPs, including
national policies. The analysis conducted for this
benchmark has found that most of the fifteen governments
surveyed have adopted policies or action plans
to respond to the needs of IDPs. In some cases in which
national policies have been lacking, regional/provincial
policies or plans of action have been developed, as in
Turkey and Afghanistan. Indeed, as the countries surveyed
reveal, various models of policies can be adopted,
including policies addressing a particular phase of
displacement.
As evident in this analysis, even when a policy is adopted,
often it is neither adequately disseminated nor
implemented. Dissemination and awareness raising on
IDP policies—especially to IDPs and to government
officials, particularly those responsible for implementation—are,
of course, essential elements in translating
policies into practice. Political will, capacity and funding
are also relevant to policy implementation. The