|
|
Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
|
| |
December
2006
Volume
11 - Number 3 |
|
By Jonathan Julio With crises and disasters happening around the world, there are numerous national and international Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) providing humanitarian assistance. The breath of assistance includes food aid, healthcare, nutrition, shelter, and water supply and sanitation. Each organization usually specializes and provides assistance in one or more of these sectors. However, the quality and performance of these missions varies greatly from one organization to the next. Sometimes lessons learned from previous humanitarian missions applied to future missions aren’t enough. In 1997, the Red Cross, Red Crescent movement and a group of NGO’s decided to establish the Sphere Project, a set of minimum standards to provide participant accountability in disaster response situations. This led to the creation of the Sphere Handbook which was developed with the collaboration of NGOs, UN agencies, and academic institutions based on the Humanitarian Charter and minimum standards. The Humanitarian Charter is based on principles of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The Sphere Handbook lists the following as common standards applicable to each of the sectors: participation, initial assessment, response, targeting, monitoring, evaluation, aid worker competencies and responsibilities, and supervision, management and support of personnel. There are many important issues that need to be considered when disaster-affected households are unable to return to their homes. One of the most important basic human needs is shelter. Chapter 4 of the Sphere Handbook discusses minimum standards in shelter, settlement, and non-food items. The standards for shelter and settlement include: (1) strategic planning, (2) physical planning, (3) covered living space, (4) design, (5)construction, and (6) environmental impact. Strategic planning enables households to enjoy the basic needs in well-being such as health, safety, and security. Health risks such as the spread of disease must be balanced with respecting the burial rituals of the culture. Thus, graveyard sites need to be at a minimum required distance from groundwater sources to prevent contamination. Ground pits and vacated buildings breed pests (flies, mosquitoes, rats, scorpions, and snakes), so shelters should be placed at a distance from these sites. Physical planning ensures safe and secure access to shelters. This is done by creating roads and pathways for all-weather access to the facilities. Cluster planning based on family or villages would provide security for them as well as self-sufficient groups. Thus, households are separated and can have privacy. Shelter design standards are important in providing acceptable fresh air levels and protection from extreme climates. In cold climates sufficient insulation would be necessary for maintaining adequate heating. Shelters would need to be designed to facilitate proper ventilation to prevent the spread of disease such as TB. Because each locality and culture is unique, organizations need to consider the local culture when designing shelters. When constructing shelters the building materials used should be familiar to the local culture. Also, the materials should be durable and economical. For example, building a modern hi-rise building in the place of a village hut would not be an appropriate decision. Finally, the design of shelters would include water supply access/sanitation and waste management facilities. Water storage and rainwater harvesting are essential to maintain adequate drinking water levels, while water drainage and waste management facilities should not obstruct the design of the shelter. For more information please visit: http://www.sphereproject.org/ |