Emergency situations, whether natural disasters or violent conflicts, result in widespread displacement of people.

Violent conflicts can result in waves of displacement over years or even decades, with much of a country's population fleeing their homes and farms.

Addressing emergency humanitarian needs in the first stage of recovery means finding short-term shelter for people. This requires conditions that provide safety and do not threaten the rights of others.

Building longer-term social and economic stability means seeking more permanent solutions — finding people land on which to live, grow food and earn income.

FAO provides technical assistance to improve access to land in countries emerging from violent conflict (e.g. Angola, Mozambique, the Sudan) and from natural disasters (such as countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami).