Resettlement is the entire process of relocation and rehabilitation caused by project related activities. Relocation is rebuilding housing, assets, including production land, and public infrastructure in another location.
The development of a good resettlement plan should take into account careful planning, close consultation and coordination among the stakeholders. The plan should be supported by a comprehensive socio-economic survey to determine all the relevant characteristics of the affected population, various options, and required resources to resettle and/or compensate them.

Issues in Relocation Planning.

• Is relocation of all APs (Affected Population) necessary?
• Are there caste, tribal or other ethnic differences among the affected population?
• What are the settlement patterns?
• How are people located relative to each other in the present site?
• What are the present community social services (e.g., health care, education) in the affected areas?
• How often do people use the various facilities?
• Are these variations by season, gender, age, income status or other factors?
• What are the range of plot sizes and average plot area in the affected areas?
• What is the present density of settlement?
• What is the present level of access to market centers and towns?
• What are the patterns of transport and communication in the affected area?

Relocation Criteria.

The criteria for site selection should be explicit and should be discussed in detail with the affected families (i.e. both the relocatees and their hosts). It may be important for rural resettlement programs, to ensure that a whole community or village is resettled together. Agricultural or pastureland provided through land-for-land resettlement should be equal or better in quality, including access to safe drinking water and irrigation water for agricultural lands. Other infrastructure and public services such as access roads, community centers, education and health services should be provided as necessary to improve living standards of the displaced population and host communities. The procedures for allocation of plots should be agreed with families and should be transparent. When rural communities are relocated, the move may involve domestic animals as well as people. Adequate arrangements must be made to ensure that animals can be watered, fed and housed at the temporary relocation site. Serious considerations and adequate measures must be implemented to mitigate negative environmental and social impacts at the relocation site.

Living with the Host Population.

In resettlement planning, the APs cannot be considered in isolation. The relocation of APs is likely to have impacts on the host population in many areas, including employment, use of common property resources, and pressure on natural resources or social services. Conflicts between hosts and resettled population may arise if the resettlement implementation agency assists only the APs. Infrastructure and support services at the relocation sites can be shared with the host community, and the hosts can participate with relocatees in programs for economic development and social integration. The host population should not feel that they are being discriminated against in the distribution of non-compensation entitlements. They deserve access to training, employment, and other benefits generated by the project.

RELOCATION PROCESS IN SUDAN:
Some 6,000 people are currently trekking about 400km through the forests of southern Sudan to return home, following a deal to end a 21-year war. BBC News.
(c) BBC 2005

Basotho people from Lesotho demonstrate in Johannesburg, South Africa to protest their relocation from traditional farmland to make way for the Water Project (Dam). Photo: Lori Waselchuk / Galbe.Com

Settlement Jaya, Indonesia
(c) Jana Resture 2004

New Railway from Chino to the Province of Tibet .
(c) Foto AFP 2005