As I am doing a study on the the future of refugees camps (enhancements of the infrastructure), what is your advice for improving the infrastructure of an existing refugees camp?

Thanks dear for such great question,

We need here to focus on three levels of infrastructure:

Water Pipes, As long as we cannot see the end of this crisis, so we need to establish a strong water pipe network in refugee camp, that includes (isolated Heavy water pipes ) to ensure healthy environment for them. And we need to find good sources for clean water to let these pipes provide from.

Power, for the same reason we need to find governmental source of POWER to provide camps by electricity, which will ensure small project for refugees inside camps and in the same time will help them to do their daily task (cooking, studying, living in minimum life standards).

Providing them by basics of small projects:

·         Build some shops and removable booths.

·         Build workshops or small factories.

·         Build small schools from G1st. to G12th.

·         Establish a market for grocery…

·         Any other establishments which help them to feel that they can start again and\\or feel safe, e.g. (fences, guard points around camp, clinic...)

 

You gave fantastic ideas, and I hope you find my contribution interesting.

In my view a refugee camp is a small city where we should establish an economic cycle, and it should be not considered as a large consumption camp. By establishing this cycle, we create new incomes to the camp and create job opportunities to refugees as well ... and why not building nature friendly camps.

1. Sell camp recyclable trash to recycling companies.

2. Use the camp, organic trash to produce natural fertilizers and cooking gas.

3. If it is possible establishing small local camp farms.

4. Using solar water heating devices which can be made locally with simple materials. 

5. Using wind turbine energy generators.

 6. Use cheap materials to build houses which are more comfortable and energy saving, like old shipping containers... by the way some universities started to use them to make prototypes of student residencies.

in most refugee camps, the most epidemic that befalls them is the waterborne diseases due to poor drainage, clean water supply and poor or no sewage system in place.

i think the government of the hosting country together with the Humanitarian companies should make this a priority, creating a possible clean or clean up environment.

some of the things to look into would include

digging of boreholes within the camp and having the water treated

if the camp site is close to water drainage or supply system, have a few points spread out within the camp to get fresh water for  drinking, include trenches that drain the water out to avoid  stagnat water which creates habiting environment for mosquito breeding and other related diseases.

make reqular inspections of the area to curb any possible buildups that makes the environment dirty.

include a dumping collection site  which is cleaned maybe twice a week

Tent cities are easy to up keep if the above is taken care of. In some cases, potable toilets can be placed as an initial emergency use with persons designated to clean them every 2 to 3 hours.

also include activities with in the camp to keep the  occupants busy and also internal job so that they can eventually grow themselves out of the camp situation and able to settle out of the camp in accordance with the law of the said land.

seclude an are where the children can continue to have continued learning.

have bi monthly meeting with the refugees and have a dialogue session to get a feel of their experience also include counseling sessions to avoid them going into a kind of depression.

 

 

Hello Team,

UNRWA provides facilities in 59 recognized refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and in other areas where large numbers of registered Palestine refugees live outside of recognized camps. For a camp to be recognized by UNRWA, there must be an agreement between the host government and UNRWA governing use of the camp. UNRWA does not itself run camps, has no police powers or administrative role, but simply provides services in the camp. Refugee camps, which developed from tent cities to settlements indistinguishable from their urban surroundings, house around one third of all registered Palestine refugees.

Regards,

 

Saiyid

I'll leave answers to Experts..... Thank you

What I'd suggest is a map of the existing infrastructure in the camp, an assessment of its capacity and issues, The feedback of the refugees on the existing infrastructure and the areas that need improvement, an assessment of current and future needs for the camp's residents and the coordination with the existing service providers in the camp on current and future plans for improvement and for camp structure and layout. Also, the involvement of the camp's residents in the planning, implementation and monitoring stages of the project would guarantee accurate representation of the community's needs as well as its agreement and sense of ownership in the project which in turn will guarantee the success of whatever you agree to work on. Best of luck.

I fully endorse answer given by Respected Sir Omar Saad Ibrahem.

If any Govt. takes practical steps regarding Three Levels of Infrastructure mentioned by Sir Omar Saad Ibrahem, I am sure, the infrastructure of existing Refugee Camps can be tremendously improved.

Thank you so mch for your kind invitation Sir; I am highly honoured.

Thanks for the invite ............................ agreed with the answers Mr. Omar

I agree with Mr Omar answer's. Thanks for the invitation. 

Thanks for invitation -

I agree with colleagues answers from the owners of specialization of my predecessors in the answer.

Ensure good water, healthy food and proper shelter as a basic requirement for them, so that we can prevent health related issues getting spread among them.