Human Service Needs and Disaster Displacement: Why Disaster Displacement and Why Now

Recent disasters and emerging threats have illuminated the importance of understanding the relationship between disaster displacement and its effect on individuals, households, and communities. The Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response initiated a literature review with the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation to learn about studies on disaster displacement and its impact on human services delivery to inform its policy and operations. This blogpost summarizes the existing literature and available resources on displacement and human services that were identified in a February 2023 report and webinar. The findings can provide useful insights to policymakers, agencies, and organizations that provide human services to people displaced by disasters.