AIDR

World Refugee Day (20 June) recognises the strength and resilience of people forced to leave their homes and calls for collective action to support safety and inclusion. The 2026 theme, 'Until everyone is safe', speaks to a shared responsibility that increasingly intersects with disaster risk reduction and climate change.

At AIDR, we recognise the growing links between climate risk, displacement and resilience. Across our region, climate change is increasing displacement, from Pacific communities facing sea level rise to people affected by floods, bushfires, and prolonged drought in Australia.

In this Q&A, Mami Mizutori, Former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, discusses the growing risk of disaster displacement due to climate change: https://www.undrr.org/qa-con-mami-mizutori-desplazamiento-por-desastres-pdd-undrr

Here, she highlights the importance of disaster risk reduction, resilient planning, data, and coordinated policies to prevent displacement, reduce vulnerability, and support long-term recovery for displaced people and host communities.

These impacts are not evenly felt. They can increase existing inequities and make it harder for some people to stay connected to place, culture, and community.

This AJEM article outlines ways to inform, engage, and partner with people from diverse refugee backgrounds to maintain connection: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/ajem-april-2019-people-from-refugee-backgrounds-contribute-to-a-disaster-resilient-illawarra/

Building safer, more inclusive communities means planning for displacement, strengthening local capacity, and working alongside communities.

This paper presents insights from a community-led initiative aimed at enhancing disaster resilience in culturally and linguistically diverse migrant and refugee communities: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/ajem-july-2024-migrant-and-refugee-communities-strengthening-disaster-resilience/

Image: Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash

The June edition of What's New in Knowledge is now available via the Knowledge Hub.

Read here: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/news/whats-new-in-knowledge-june-2026/

Compiled by Blythe McLennan and Lexi Barrington, this monthly blog series collates key research, reports, and public interest journalism from across the disaster resilience space.

'I reflected on our seemingly growing tendency to seek linear approaches to complex problems, and revert to a 1950s approach of engineering our way out of problems, when what is required are more connected, systemic approaches grounded in soft skills.'

Read more here: https://www.aidr.org.au/news/this-is-aidr-calling-june-2026/

AIDR Executive Director John Richardson highlights the importance of community connections, Indigenous knowledge, and systems thinking in building resilience before disasters occur.