Anticipatory action in refugee and IDP camps: Challenges, opportunities and considerations

Drawing on case studies from Bangladesh and Syria, this report from the anticipatory action in conflict working group identifies some factors to consider when designing anticipatory actions in refugee and internally displaced persons camps. In the past decade, the number of climate disasters and people displaced by conflict has risen globally, illustrating a pressing need to better understand how already displaced people are impacted by climate disasters.

The sections of this paper present two case studies of displacement which highlight particular challenges and opportunities for Anticipatory Action that are also relevant for other displacement contexts. The first case study explores camps for internally displaced Syrians near Aleppo and Idlib, specifically the Dana sub-district of camps, in the northwest region of Syria. The second case study focuses on Cox’s Bazar in southeast Bangladesh, home to nearly a million Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar. An overview of historical disaster events and their impacts is provided followed by an exploration of Anticipatory Actions that could be developed in these contexts. The report concludes with key considerations and potential next steps in developing Anticipatory Action interventions in displacement contexts