Experiences of Urban Environmental Vulnerability: The Role of Migrant Status and Neighborhood Location in Beira, Mozambique

Rural-to-urban migration is often framed as a critical strategy for households negotiating environmental risk, yet the extent to which it represents an effective form of adaptation in urban settings remains poorly understood. Drawing on a mixed-methods case study of two low-income neighborhoods in Beira, Mozambique, this article explores the degree to which migrants are more vulnerable than nonmigrants to environmental risk in a highly exposed coastal city. Based on semistructured interviews and household surveys with migrant (n = 79) and nonmigrant (n = 79) residents, findings indicate that migrants and nonmigrants experience comparable levels of vulnerability, whereas neighborhood characteristics play a more decisive role. The study underscores the importance of place-based analyses informed by residents’ own interpretations of environmental risk and contributes to ongoing debates on migration, vulnerability, and adaptation in rapidly urbanizing cities.