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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The Consequences of Resettlement in Ethiopia
Author:Woldemeskel, Getachew
Year:1989
Periodical:African Affairs: The Journal of the Royal African Society
Volume:88
Issue:352
Period:July
Pages:359-374
Language:English
Geographic term:Ethiopia
Subjects:resettlement
famine
Politics and Government
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Development and Technology
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/722691
Abstract:During the onset of famine in 1984, the Ethiopian government announced its plan to resettle 1.5 million of the estimated 8 million famine victims in other less affected regions of the country. This paper considers the questions of whether resettlement can serve as a viable strategy of famine relief and vulnerability reduction, and what exactly are the consequences on the well-being of the people affected and on the material resources of the country. This is done by focusing on the Metekel resettlement site in northwestern Ethiopia. The study reveals that resettlement has brought hardships to settlers, has worsened the destitute conditions of the Gumuz people, and has led to environmental degradation. Thus the government's effort to tackle the problems of land scarcity, famine, and ecological degradation in the highlands has resulted in the spread of these problems to regions which were previously unaffected. It seems that the resettlement strategy is not only self-defeating, but also has brought grave consequences which outweigh the justifications for its implementation. Notes, ref.
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