Massive gatherings of displaced populations at a site or camp require rapid organisation of shelter and non-food items.
Overcrowding exacerbates the health risks and can facilitate disease transmission. Protection from the sun, rain, cold and wind are essential to the well-being of refugees and IDPs, as is adequate living space for families.
In order to reduce the health risks, construction of shelters and health care facilities should begin on the first day of operations.
Shelter and non-food items.
In the emergency phase, MSF usually distributes six-by-four metre plastic sheeting. The displaced then place them over the wooden structures as roofing.
This waterproof sheeting is often used for several months.
If possible, the populations build their own shelters and, if necessary, are given locally-available materials to facilitate procurement, plus tools and technical support to assist them.
Each shelter requires at least 3.5 square metres per person,
and 4.5 square metres in cold countries.
If the supply of local materials is limited, family tents may be provided as temporary structures while more durable individual shelters are planned.
Decent living conditions also require non-food items like kitchen utensils, jerry cans for transporting and storing water, blankets, and energy sources such as wood or gasoline – or even a heating system for the cold.
Site planning
Very careful attention must be paid to how the site is organised – even when this is the responsibility of the UNHCR or another designated organisation – as it has a direct impact on the population’s access to care.
The site should be chosen, to the greatest extent possible, according to key criteria such as security, the space available, the proximity of residents and water sources, the environmental risks and accessibility by road.
If the refugees have settled at a site themselves, improvements and reorganisation are better than trying to radically change how the settlement is arranged.
In principle, the camp should be set up at least 50 kilometres from any borders or conflict zones, and remain humanitarian and civilian in nature.
The terrain should be slightly inclined to provide natural water drainage.
The camp should not just be large enough for the refugees already there, but allow for the possibility of a new influx. The objective is to have 35 square metres per person.
The site should be organised, as much as possible, in a way that respects the population’s cultural practices and social organisation, so that the infrastructure and programmes are more readily accepted. Families and communities should not be separated. For this reason, the IDPs or refugees should be as involved as possible in designing the site.
The settlement is ideally organised into communities of eight to sixteen shelters,
with adjoining, centralised common spaces like latrines, showers and water points.
If possible, there should be special housing for at-risk groups like unaccompanied children or the elderly.
Site planning (facilities)
It is important to begin setting up health care facilities at the start of the operation, to receive and treat patients.
For health care and all other facilities – whether the water supply system, the sanitary facilities, the food distribution site and storehouses, the reception centre, or community facilities like markets and cemeteries – choose a location that is appropriate to the structure of the camp.
Energy sources must also be considered. Deforestation from the use of wood as cooking fuel can sometimes cause political and environmental problems.
Conclusion
Camp organisation and living areas that are both rational and appropriate to the political and sociocultural environment help reduce the health risks, protect the population and increase the effectiveness of the aid.
Overcrowding exacerbates the health risks and can facilitate disease transmission. Protection from the sun, rain, cold and wind are essential to the well-being of refugees and IDPs, as is adequate living space for families.
In order to reduce the health risks, construction of shelters and health care facilities should begin on the first day of operations.
Shelter and non-food items.
In the emergency phase, MSF usually distributes six-by-four metre plastic sheeting. The displaced then place them over the wooden structures as roofing.
This waterproof sheeting is often used for several months.
If possible, the populations build their own shelters and, if necessary, are given locally-available materials to facilitate procurement, plus tools and technical support to assist them.
Each shelter requires at least 3.5 square metres per person,
and 4.5 square metres in cold countries.
If the supply of local materials is limited, family tents may be provided as temporary structures while more durable individual shelters are planned.
Decent living conditions also require non-food items like kitchen utensils, jerry cans for transporting and storing water, blankets, and energy sources such as wood or gasoline – or even a heating system for the cold.
Site planning
Very careful attention must be paid to how the site is organised – even when this is the responsibility of the UNHCR or another designated organisation – as it has a direct impact on the population’s access to care.
The site should be chosen, to the greatest extent possible, according to key criteria such as security, the space available, the proximity of residents and water sources, the environmental risks and accessibility by road.
If the refugees have settled at a site themselves, improvements and reorganisation are better than trying to radically change how the settlement is arranged.
In principle, the camp should be set up at least 50 kilometres from any borders or conflict zones, and remain humanitarian and civilian in nature.
The terrain should be slightly inclined to provide natural water drainage.
The camp should not just be large enough for the refugees already there, but allow for the possibility of a new influx. The objective is to have 35 square metres per person.
The site should be organised, as much as possible, in a way that respects the population’s cultural practices and social organisation, so that the infrastructure and programmes are more readily accepted. Families and communities should not be separated. For this reason, the IDPs or refugees should be as involved as possible in designing the site.
The settlement is ideally organised into communities of eight to sixteen shelters,
with adjoining, centralised common spaces like latrines, showers and water points.
If possible, there should be special housing for at-risk groups like unaccompanied children or the elderly.
Site planning (facilities)
It is important to begin setting up health care facilities at the start of the operation, to receive and treat patients.
For health care and all other facilities – whether the water supply system, the sanitary facilities, the food distribution site and storehouses, the reception centre, or community facilities like markets and cemeteries – choose a location that is appropriate to the structure of the camp.
Energy sources must also be considered. Deforestation from the use of wood as cooking fuel can sometimes cause political and environmental problems.
Conclusion
Camp organisation and living areas that are both rational and appropriate to the political and sociocultural environment help reduce the health risks, protect the population and increase the effectiveness of the aid.
Category
🗞
News