Conflict related displacement and post-conflict land administration

Conflicts are a huge obstacle to global growth and sustainable development. The most serious concerns from conflicts nowadays are: death, injury, destroyed infrastructure and houses, and displacement. Land and its administration are always negatively affected by conflict; if neglected or not properly addressed in post-conflict contexts they could be a cause for new disputes and renewed violent conflicts. These issues become more complex after the end of the conflict when people in masses return to their places of origin and usually find their properties destroyed or illegally occupied by secondary occupants. This study aims at increasing the understanding of conflict related displacement and post-conflict land administration.
One of the cases where conflict related displacement and land related challenges can be deeper explored is Kosovo. Kosovo witnessed a conflict which resulted with displacement in several waves. In the first wave, prior to the NATO intervention in March 1999, more than 260,000 people were internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 100,000 were refugees. The second wave of displacement occurred when the NATO intervention was announced; almost half of the total population, app. 800,000 mainly Kosovo Albanians, sought refuge in neighbouring Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro, and additional 500,000 were IDPs. After the end of the conflict in period of 40 days, more than 700,000 refugees returned to Kosovo. Violation in property rights, illegal occupation and forced eviction from properties was evident. The final wave, aroused after the end of the conflict, when 245,000 mainly Serbs and other non-Albanians fled from Kosovo. Land issues were adequately addressed in the peace agreement document focusing on displaced population, establishment of land administration system and resolution of property claims. With the support of the international community these issues were developed accordingly and had positive impact on land related problems of the displaced population of Kosovo.