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- Convenors:
-
Agatha Ogbe
(Opolo Global Innovation Limited, Lagos State, Nigeria)
Sarah Edewor (Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Nigeria)
Chinyere Igbosoroeze (Federal university of Agriculture Abeokuta)
Kingsley Edewor (Saradore Trust Nigeria Limited)
Esther Tolorunju (Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta)
Olatokunbo Hammed Osinowo (Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria)
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- Formats:
- Papers Mixed
- Stream:
- Global environmental justice
- Sessions:
- Friday 2 July, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic is having widespread impacts on migrants, disasters displaced persons and refugees as well as significant effects on the different facets of migration both locally and globally.
Long Abstract:
Globally, climate change remains of concern to world leaders because of its debilitating effects on humans and the environment. The number of persons been evacuated and displaced continues to rise with the rising incidence of adverse weather events. Almost 2,000 disasters in 2019 triggered the new displacement of 24.9 million people. About one-third of the world’s internally displaced persons live in countries most at-risk to COVID-19. They also face specific challenges relating to the COVID-19 containment measures of physical distancing and other infection prevention measures practices due to the densely populated accommodations. The impact of climate change makes the chances of disasters striking during COVID-19 outbreak more severe on displaced persons making them more vulnerable as they are faced with three crises rolled into one: health crisis, socio-economic crisis and protection crisis.
This panel seek papers that will address the following issues: what are the possible challenges encountered in protecting the most vulnerable (displaced person) in the event of climate change and COVID-19? What possible social safety nets are in place for disasters displaced persons and environmental migrants? Are there response measures in place in shelter centres in situations where capacity is exceeded to evacuate large groups of persons in order to prevent catastrophic health risk? What measures are in place to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, eliminate drivers of displacement and protect human rights?
The aim of the conveners is to develop a collaborative publication from the panels’ collection of papers
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Friday 2 July, 2021, -Paper short abstract:
Climate change is evident through increase in the number of storms, shoreline erosion, severe droughts, heat waves and coastal floods. These consequences often pose risk to human security and livelihood.
Paper long abstract:
Natural disasters related to climate change are one of the drivers of forced displacement or migration. The consequences of climate change on mobility/migration present humanity with an unprecedented challenge. On its own, climate change does not directly displace people or cause people to move, however, it produces environmental effects that aggravates vulnerable situations which makes it difficult for people to survive in the affected areas. Continuous change in climate will likely shift the pattern of human mobility and this presents opportunities that may aid adaptation to climate-environmental related change events. A change in environment due to climate change impact the ecosystems on which people depend for livelihood.
The movement of people due to changes in their environment is not a new phenomenon as people have been moving (internally or across border) in response to changes in their environment. This paper explores climate-environmental related events that could cause severe impact on human migration and livelihood disruption. The expected outcome of this paper will provide answers to: How is climate change and environmental disruption/ degradation affecting migration? What are the different levels of environmental displacement? What is the implication of these disruptions on livelihood? What measures (individual and external) currently exist to address victims of extreme environmental events especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Paper short abstract:
Environmental migration is a reality in West Africa with migration patterns being affected by climate related disasters. The susceptibility of many migrant communities have been uncovered by the COVID-19 pandemic, hence the need to develop a sustainable framework for migration governance
Paper long abstract:
Displacement due to conflict, violence and disasters has continued to increase in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2018, estimated displacement due to disasters from floods, droughts and storms accounted for 2.6 million new displacements as compared to 16.8 million new displacements due to conflict and violence in Africa. The West Africa sub-region is not left out with the occurrence of high incidence of floods and drought and other climate related Incidents. This has resulted into rapid environmental degradation, loss of livelihood, loss of properties, livestock and in some cases death. Across farming communities, climate change consequences have resulted in the partial loss or complete loss of crops thus leading to food insecurity especially in areas of intensive food production. Those displaced are faced with overcrowded living conditions, limited or no social protection and limited access to basic services. These living conditions make it extremely difficult for the affected people to implement the measures put in place by government such as social distancing and isolation to reduce the Spread of COVID-19, thereby increasing the likelihood of the risk of the virus spread among the vulnerable group. This paper seeks to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting migration patterns of displaced persons and their welfare. The paper will specifically identify measures put in place to mitigate the adverse effect of climate change, promote climate change adaptation, reduce disaster risk, reduce the COVID-19 spread and identify the roles placed by both Government and Non-Governmental Organizations.
Paper short abstract:
This paper assesses the impact of COVID-19 on human mobility in the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region and identifies strategies through which the regional body can develop a sustainable and resilient migration governance framework in future..
Paper long abstract:
Since its outbreak in late 2019, the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has complicated human mobility and migration governance across the globe. The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which hosts 4.2 million refugees and approximately 8.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) has been among hard hit regions in Africa. IGAD countries, namely Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda have all implemented different forms of national lockdowns measures in response to COVID-19 outbreak which have restricted human mobility and cross-border movement. This has resulted in people being trapped in dangerous situations in attempting to cross borders as migrants, refugees, IDPs, cross-border traders, nomadic pastoralists, et cetera, thereby risking their health in light of COVID-19. As a result, it has exposed them to loss of livelihoods, food insecurity, human rights abuses and exposed mostly women and girls to gender-based violence and sexual violence. This, therefore, maybe the time to critically re-imagine human mobility and migration governance in IGAD in the post-COVID era. This paper therefore seeks to assess the impact of COVID-19 on human mobility in IGAD and identify strategies through which the regional body can develop a sustainable and resilient migration governance framework that can protect IGAD citizens during future pandemics and natural disasters which are a common occurrence in IGAD. The International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s Migration Governance Framework is used as a conceptual framework of analysis whilst secondary data sources are used for analysis.