What are the first steps of establishing a refugee camps in safe area in refugees crisis ?

As usual, a ‘Brainstorming’ Question! Thank you so much Sir Omar Saad Ibrahem for initiating such a Constructive discussion.

The process of providing humanitarian assistance to refugee situations is complex and fluid. It includes determining the legal status of the refugees, providing basic life-sustaining needs, establishing safe-havens and camps, and seeking durable solutions.

 The first steps for establishing a Refugee Camp in a safe area in refugee crisis may be summarized as under:- 

1) Setting up a Technical Site Selection Committee

2)  Site Survey and Assessment  

3)  Planning and Design

4)  Shelter

5)  Protection Aspects of Camp Setup

In order to reduce Health Risks, it is essential that site planning and organization takes place as early as possible so that overcrowding is minimized and efficient relief services are provided.

Shelters must be provided as rapidly as possible to protect refugees from the environment,

and infrastructure installed for the necessary HEALTH and NUTRITION facilities, WATER SUPPLY installations, LATRINES, etc.  All this must be initiated within the first week of intervention. 

Relief agencies are usually faced with one of two possible scenarios:- either the camp is already established with a refugee population that has spontaneously settled on a site prior to the arrival of relief agencies, or site planning is possible prior to their arrival, for example, when they are being transferred to a new camp. 

Whichever is the case, prompt action must be undertaken to improve the site and its-facilities; poor organization in the early stages may lead to a chaotic and potentially irreversible situation in regard to camp infrastructure, with consequent health risks. For example, lateral expansion of a site must be accounted for from the beginning in order to avoid overcrowding if refugee numbers increase. 

Thanks Mr Omar for invitation :   We can follow the next steps according to the number of people    -  Families : Provide them tent . -  Women & Girls ( without families or men ) isolate them and establish a small camps for them  -  Mothers without Men and husbands : isolate them and gather them with women camps or women at risk camps      In general we need to calculate the number of refugees and categorize them on :   1- families  2- Women at Risk  3- Children  4- Individuals 

I have the same view of Hafsa's and totally agree to her answer. Thanks.

Your question sound more political than constructive.

However the design of the camps, no matter who uses it, is defined primarily on the basis of financial found, on basis of location, number of users, type of infrastructure networks (electricity supply, water supply, sewage drainage, access roads, communications, and so on). When creating the Camps project, you should have the information on the type of the related supporting facilities (   school, kindergarten, clinic, laundry, offices buildings, recreation facilities, mini markets …) . Internal and external security is very important (T-Wall elements, check points, additional roof protection of all buildings – trailers…). In the selection and design of the restaurant - the kitchens, walk in refrigerators, it is best to do this in cooperation with selected Catering Company…

If you send me more detailed information, I can tell you what the priorities are.

 

 

I agree with Farhana answer, it is so organized and completed answer

provide the perimeter with  safety and security.

implement extrem security measures on single males between ( 18-30 years old)

preferable to shelter families and old folks only.

not to over crowd the camps.

food, water, clothes and medication

assign a committee from within the refugees

build toilets on one end of of the camp and kitchens on the other end to avoid crosscontamination and sickness. 

That's a good yet complicated question.. Let's take it step by step, So there's a disaster (natural or man-made) let's assume it's in another country since we're talking about refugees and not IDPs.. The extent of the disaster as in, how long is it expected to last(this affects the decision on the site selection as well as it'll need to be expandable if the issue persists) the expected number of the affected population which helps estimate the number of expected asylum seekers. The country or region they're fleeing, this could affect the decision on the site selection as it's preferable to be the closest(for transportation expenses) safe area to the entry point. The region of origin and the cultural background may affect the decision of a separate camp or integration with the local community. Deciding on the location is mainly affected by the available funding so that's important. Also a study of the environment of the site is crucial; how close is it to host communities, how close is it to resources especially emergency and essential resources, how the camp would effect the existing environment and natural resources ( we avoid any harm in the future), and also to assure safety and security for residents of the camp from severe weather or environmental conditions if any. That's the first thing that come up to my mind on deciding on location as an initial step to establishing a camp. Will come back with other steps when I have time. I hope you find it useful