Ebook: Living in Limbo: Conflict-Induced Displacement in Europe and Central Asia

The conflicts of the 1990s in Europe and the former Soviet Union left in their wake nearly 10 million refugees and internally displaced persons. Even where peace treaties or ceasefires have brought an end to open conflict, about half of those originally displaced remain, a decade later, in an uncertain status, with no immediate possibility of returning home. Long-term, conflict-induced displacement has created both conceptual and operational challenges for development agencies concerned with poverty reduction. 'Living in Limbo' analyzes the special nature of displacement-induced vulnerability along several dimensions, including material well-being, employment, shelter, and human and social capital. The study draws on the authors' field work as well as extensive review surveys, studies, and poverty assessments in 13 countries. A detailed analysis of the causes and characteristics of displaced vulnerability, 'Living in Limbo' provides pragmatic operational recommendations for policymakers and practitioners in both development and humanitarian agencies.