Nutritional impact of resettlement, settlement and colonization

This report explores and recommends ways to sever the link between displacement and malnutrition. In reviewing the historical causes of population displacement (e.g., war, agrarian reform, sedentarization), the authors differentiate among settlement, voluntary and spontaneous migration of individuals or families; resettlement, forced and directed relocation of communities; and colonization, privately or publicly planned and administered movement of small, selected groups as part of an area development scheme. Proposing that malnutrition should properly be a priority concern of development planners, the authors detail the environmental and social determinants of malnutrition. The societal cost of malnutrition is seen as an extrapolation of the cost to the individual - physical and mental debilitation leading to reduced productivity. Citing several empirical studies, the authors conclude: (1) that resettlement entails a high initial danger of malnutrition after which conditions improve for most but worsen for a small minority; (2) that settlement involves a similar initial risk but over time settlers achieve a substantial improvement over previous conditions; and (3) that colonization can greatly improve or harm nutritional status depending on how well the project is administered. The authors recommend improving projects at six stages. In the project design, the problem must be defined, an objective set, and alternatives compared. Household socioeconomic and nutritional surveys must next be conducted. Before the move, participants should be educated regarding what to expect and what to grow. During the move, provisions should be adequate. Upon arrival at the new locale, food relief must be based on accurate measures of need, should consist of familiar foods or carefully introduced new foods, and should be monitored regarding administration and nutritional impact. Finally, periodic assessments should continue well after the displaced are established. An 84-item bibliography (1942-80) is appended.