The Central Sahel faces pressing housing, land, and property (HLP) issues that exacerbate conflict and displacement. In 2024, violations of property rights led to significant shelter needs among displaced individuals, highlighting the urgency of secure land access. Effective resolution of these issues requires collaborative efforts across humanitarian and development sectors to improve living conditions and community integration.
In 2024, communities in the Central Sahel reported that two-fifths of protection incidents involved violations of property rights. These housing, land, and property (HLP) issues were cited as a common cause of intercommunity conflict, manifesting through extortion, theft, and looting. Conflicts often compel families to flee, exacerbating already dire conditions for displaced individuals who experience significantly heightened shelter needs compared to host communities.
The aftermath of forced displacement intensifies existing HLP challenges, affecting access to services, resources, and employment in semi-urban arrival areas. Competing customary and legal land norms contribute to tenure insecurity and the risk of forced evictions. Adequate land management is crucial for effective assistance, particularly for initiatives aimed at shelter installation and agricultural development, necessitating secure land access.
Despite the challenges, donations remain the primary method (65%) through which individuals access land in the Central Sahel. Moreover, surveyed communities acknowledged that positive HLP conditions could enhance their willingness to return voluntarily or integrate into host communities. Thus, effective responses to HLP issues require strengthened collaboration among humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding entities to achieve meaningful impact.
In summary, the housing, land, and property issues in the Central Sahel significantly affect displaced populations and host communities alike. The interrelated challenges of property rights violations, shelter needs, and land access underscore the necessity for integrated approaches combining humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. Enhancing land management and security is essential to fostering resilience and stability in the region.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
