ABSTRACT
Not a week passes in which humanitarian crises do not precipitate some form of movement. The movements that occur in the context of humanitarian crises are complex and diverse. People move within their countries and across international borders, on a temporary or permanent basis, in a legal or irregular manner. They move on their own or with assistance from external actors. Some benefit from evacuation mechanisms, voluntary migration programs, or social and diaspora networks. Others resort to clandestine networks, travelling by land or sea and taking enormous risks. Many move in direct response to acute events, while others migrate in anticipation of future harm. Yet others remain trapped in their home communities or in transit, their movement inhibited by the unfolding crisis, or by lack of resources or capacity to reach safety. Both citizens and non-citizens of countries experiencing crises are affected. These movements have implications that extend well beyond immigration control and national interests, touching upon human rights, humanitarian and development principles, and the frameworks for international protection, cooperation and burden sharing, among others. Existing legal and institutional frameworks manifest limited capacity to accommodate all those with protection needs, and yet a coherent set of principles for addressing such movements and protection is still to be devised. This volume is a first step toward this endeavor.
