Research Report & Briefing Paper

There is growing recognition that climate change is a factor driving displacement – primarily within borders, but also across international borders (usually within the same region). Climate change is seen as a “threat multiplier,” exacerbating existing inequalities and risks – for example, through destroying shelter or increasing food insecurity. Groups such as the Rohingya who have been displaced by conflict are more likely to be secondarily displaced by disasters.

This research examines the complex ways in which climate change specifically affects (im)mobility for the Rohingya, and to what extent environmental factors interact with other social, economic, and political factors in driving (im)mobility, increasing protection risks, and impacting prospects for achieving durable solutions.

The research took place between December 2023 and February 2024, engaging with a mixed methods approach incorporating a literature review, 4Mi survey data among 4,064 Rohingya in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand; 200 household surveys in Cox’s Bazar, and 36 semi-structured key informant interviews with representatives of Rohingya-led grassroots organisations in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand; as well as key stakeholders at the global, regional and national levels engaged in humanitarian policy and programming, disaster preparedness and response, climate change, and refugee protection.

The “Protecting Refugees in Asia” (PRiA) project is a joint project of Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA), the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), HOST International Malaysia, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Indonesia, and the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), made possible through the generous support of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

This research was commissioned by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) under the PRiA project and prepared by Jessica Marsh, Human Rights Consulting, with valuable support from Field Research Lead, Mohammad Aziz, as well as a team of Rohingya volunteer researchers. The research was produced with the overall supervision and support of Hui Yin Chuah, Research Officer at Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), and Paul Vernon, Regional Advocacy Specialist, Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP), as well as feedback from PRiA partners.

The Research Report is available here, while the shorter Briefing Paper is available here.

The summary note from the Research Launch Event held on 27 May 2024 can also be found here.