Sanctuary in the City? Urban Displacement and Vulnerability in Damascus

The Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), in cooperation with the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), were carrying out a series of studies between 2010 and 2012 on urban displacement. This multi-year research project explored the phenomenon of displacement in the urban environment and the implications and challenges that it poses for humanitarian action. Through field research in eight urban centres in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, the work aimed to consider the reality of life for displaced populations in urban areas, investigate the policy and operational challenges that confront national and international stakeholders when responding to the needs of urban IDPs and refugees, and offer recommendations for strengthening support to these populations.

This study focuses on urbanisation, displacement and vulnerability in the Syrian capital, Damascus.