Study of migration as a form of adaptation strategy to natural hazards. case study: flood induced migration in Rathnapura area

Abstract

This research studies migration as a household adaptation strategy to flood in Rathnapura.Environment extremes act as one contributor among many to population movement. There are number of migration theories those explains the factors which contribute to human migration. Existing research on human migration in response to natural hazards tends to be limited. So it is important to study how environment factor act as critical factor in the decision to migrate. It is undisputed that there is indeed a relationship between migration and environment hazards. The topic of migration as adaptation strategy is of growing importance but still in the initial stage. So this research emphasize why some people decide to migrate while others do not. What are the factors affect to people to think to migrate and what are the adaptation strategies employed by people in order to reduce the vulnerability. This research was designed in order to give answers to those questions and to study the migration as one form of adaptation strategy. Data and information was collected through questionnaire and interview. The data was analyzed through chi-square test, one way ANOVA and descriptive statistical method by using SPSS. Results shows that there is statistically significant relationship between occupation, severity of flood and no. of years living in hazardous area with think of migrating. Migration cost, livelihood linked with environment, native place,social ties mainly affect to people to stay in risky area. The factors like recovery cost,scarcity of food, disease and security motivate people to migrate. This study shows that people are more vulnerable for flood like to migrate in order to reduce the vulnerability by reducing exposure to flood.