In the context of the ongoing Russian invasion and the uncertainties surrounding the potential return migration of millions of displaced Ukrainians, this study explores the future of (return) migration through an innovative and inclusive participatory foresight approach, engaging 20 displaced Ukrainians residing in Valencia, Spain, from May to December 2023. The foresight process included workshops, discussions via online messaging groups, interviews, participatory observations, and culminated in an open art exhibition. Through this process, we conducted a collective horizon scanning, identifying weak signals and emerging trends, followed by an examination of critical uncertainties, which led to the development of four distinct scenarios: Exhaustion Return, Energetic Return, Virtual Return, and Disconnection. The insights derived from this foresight exercise hold practical relevance for both Ukrainian and EU migration policymakers, emphasizing the importance of lived experiences in shaping anticipatory migration policies. This study also offers theoretical contributions by applying participatory foresight to the field of return migration, challenging established knowledge paradigms, and fostering a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of migration dynamics and their broader implications.

This is the text for the Opening Address for the Conference, Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Phuket, Thailand, 04-06 May 2005. The frightening reality of the costs (human and material) must be balanced by what has been and can be learned that, if applied, can make the world more resilient for the next event. At the time of this Conference, we are moving from response to recovery. The immediate conclusion relates to the consequences of the realization of a truly interdependent world. Given the huge resourcesmade available, there is an increased need for accountability. Several factors will bear heavily on the outcomes: (1) risk of loss of momentum; (2) ensuring that no gaps in services occur; (3) ensuring that already marginalized communities do not become forgotten or even more marginalized; (4) support and respect of national leadership; (5) commit to enhanced coordination; and (6) develop mechanisms for joint and shared assessments. The available resources must be used to stablize the livelihoods of people for years. Lastly, the reliability and sustainability of the important contributions of the military and the commercial private sectors for future events must be established