Landslide Induced Displacement and Relocation Options: A Case Study of Owner Driven Settings in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Disaster induced displacement is one of the most frequent phenomena occurring in the contemporary world and has been aggravated by factors such as climate change. With the systematic interpretation of disaster risks, planned relocation has been recognized as a durable solution for post-disaster reconstruction and disaster mitigation. Planned relocation initiatives that have been executed as post-disaster reconstruction initiatives in Sri Lanka have mainly followed donor driven and owner driven approaches. This study is a comparative analysis of the status quo of owner driven relocation options that were implemented after the landslide which took place in 2016 in the X District of Sri Lanka. Two research fields were selected based on the two owner driven options as part of the selected case study: Government Resettlement Sites and Individual Resettlement Sites. This exploratory study utilizes both secondary and primary data. A purposive sample of ten households was selected from each setting to conduct in-depth interviews. Furthermore, five structured interviews with key informants were conducted using an expert sample. Secondary data were collected based on the concepts of relocation and satisfaction of housing. The findings suggest that the respondents were satisfied with the housing units in both settings despite concerns in relation to the suggested plans of the housing units. Furthermore, common concerns were raised in terms of delays and issues in fund management in construction of houses. However, there was a drastic disparity in terms of other infrastructural, public, and neighborhood facilities in the two settings. Hence, this study suggests the need for an overall management and monitoring strategy for all owner driven relocation options.

Factors Influencing Housing Satisfaction in Post-Disaster Resettlement: A Case of Nepal

“…Likewise, Tharim et al [13] identified that the post-flood resettled communities in Malaysia were unsatisfied with the housing design, the size of the house, and the indoor air temperature during the daytime. Senanayake et al [4] stressed that community involvement in the planning and alteration of the housing design will increase housing satisfaction. Meanwhile, Pormon et al [24] conducted a study on post-disaster resettlement in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan and found that cultural activities played a significant role as common predictor variables in determining residential satisfaction.…”

“…Resettlement entails the planned, assisted, and permanent relocation of displaced populations by introducing them to a new built environment [2,3]. It is considered a durable solution for post-disaster reconstruction and mitigation [4]. However, despite significant financial investment and policy provisions, many resettlement projects have produced limited outcomes in resettlement projects, which often overlook the long-term well-being of the affected communities [5].…”

Assessment of Internal and External Factors Causing Slow-Moving Landslides

“…Disasters are a frequent phenomenon worldwide, and climate change is accelerating the hazard of disasters [1]. The world has a total forest area of 4.06 billion ha, which accounts for 31% of the total land area [2].…”

Influence of altitude, slope, and waterway characteristics on the occurrence of slow-moving landslides in South Korea

“…Natural disasters are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide (Senanayake et al, 2022). In particular, large-scale forest soil sediment disasters induced by complex topographical and climatic factors destroy forests and cause loss of life, property destruction, and infrastructure damage (Stanley and Kirschbaum, 2017;Habumugisha et al, 2022).…”