A scoping review of risk creation in disaster-induced resettlement in the urban
Resettlement is a commonly used recovery strategy in the aftermath of disasters. However, there is very little evidence to show that resettlements lead to disaster risk reduction. Using a scoping review methodology, this paper examines the process and drivers of disaster risk creation in disaster-induced resettlement in the urban. This paper reviewed 77 studies and categorized risks (both new and pre-existing risks that are exacerbated) in urban areas. The paper also highlights the theoretical approaches used to engage with new risks. Drawing on critical disaster studies, we expand the concept of risk beyond natural hazards to include broader socio-economic and political components. The review identified 5 categories of risks in disaster-induced resettlements: 1. Loss of infrastructure and basic amenities, 2. Livelihood and economic crisis, 3. Loss of sense of community, 4. Loss of health and well-being and 5. Compounding vulnerabilities and inequalities. The paper discusses the roles of various actors and interconnected processes in the risk creation. Finally, the paper highlights gaps in the literature and provides directions for further research and practice. • This manuscript analyzes 77 empirical studies on disaster-induced urban resettlement in low- and middle-income countries using a scoping review to identify key risks and risk creation processes. • It challenges resettlement as effective disaster recovery strategy, showing it often produces new physical, political, economic, and social risks instead of reducing them. • The paper identifies evolving risks at resettlement sites while mapping key drivers and theoretical debates in resettlement literature. • Key drivers for risk creation were found to be corruption, exclusion from articipation and institutional incapacities • It recognises that risks are shifting and temporal, urging resettlement to be viewed within broader urban dynamics and not as a single event.
Authors
- Tejal Patil
- Suchismita Goswami
- Emmanuel Raju
Institutions
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cities
- Published
- 2026-01-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.106707
- Primary Topic
- Disaster Management and Resilience
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00