Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/280976 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Series/Report no.: 
SWP Research Paper No. 15/2023
Publisher: 
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), Berlin
Abstract: 
The proportion of affected populations who flee violent conflict is much smaller than is widely assumed. Many decide to remain in the conflict zones. They are often referred to as stayees. Three groups can be identified. Some people stay voluntarily. Others do so involuntarily, for example because they lack the resources to flee or because violent actors restrict their freedom of movement. Another group acquiesce to their immobility. Little is known about stayees, their needs and the reasons for their im­mobility. But several factors relevant to their decision-making can be identified. These include type of conflict, type of violence and personal situation. Whether they remain voluntarily or involuntarily, stayees employ sur­vival strategies including collaboration, neutrality, protest and resistance. Knowledge about stayees and their survival strategies is important for humanitarian aid and development actors. Only if they are well informed can they align their activities with actual needs and provide meaningful support to people living in and with violent conflicts. It is therefore essential to consider the entire spectrum of (im)mobility and to understand this expanded perspective as a positive - without neglecting the forcibly displaced. The agency of civilians in violent conflicts needs to be recognised and they must be protected from abuse and exploitation by aid workers (do-no-harm principle). Finally, stayees must be systematically included in all post-conflict initiatives supporting vol­untary return and reintegration.
Subjects: 
displacement
internally displaced persons (IDPs)
trapped populations
migration
asylum
stayees
humanitarian aid
development cooperation
violent conflicts
do-no-harm principle
return
reintegration
Germany
EU
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Research Report

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