SHELTER
IN DISASTER RESPONSE
International Federation of
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Shelter sector challenges…
Terminology – the word “shelter” is not
sufficient in most languages to define
the breadth of the sector
There is no right to shelter under IHL –
but there is a right to adequate housing
The focus should be on providing
adequate shelter for the expected
duration of use - defined by the needs of
affected populations, rather than
emergency, temporary, transitional etc.
Shelter sector challenges…
There is no leading agency in the
shelter sector as other sectors – and few
leading agencies have shelter in their
mandate
The International Federation is one of
the leading providers of shelter amongst
humanitarian actors – National Societies
implement a wide range of emergency,
transitional and permanent housing
Beyond survival, shelter should provide…
Protection from climate
Security and personal safety
Enhanced resistance to ill health
and disease
Support for family
and community life
Basic human dignity
Shelter solutions should promote…
Use of communal coping strategies
Self-sufficiency
and self-management
Reducing risks and vulnerabilities
Minimising adverse impacts on local
environment and economy
Maximising household livelihood
support and local economic activities
What IS shelter…
Shelter should be seen as a process
i.e sheltering
NOT only the provision of a product
The process of sheltering…
Before disaster Disaster Beyond emergency response
& emergency
response
Before disaster – Beyond emergency
over time response – households
households build, receiving shelter
extend and upgrade assistance will over time
houses using extend and upgrade
materials, cash, shelter solutions provided
contracted local using materials, cash,
labour or self-help contracted local labour or
self-help
Emergency response should support the
sheltering process – providing materials, cash,
contracted local labour or self-help + technical
support as appropriate
Shelter solutions should consider…
Provision of adequate space
Protection from hazards and risks
Access to safe drinking water and
adequate sanitation and washing facilities
Access to healthcare, schools, social
services and livelihood opportunities
Energy for cooking, heating and lighting
Food storage and safe refuse disposal
Cultural appropriateness of materials,
design and layout
Shelter should be informed by…
Nature and scale of disaster
Climatic conditions and local
environment
Political and security situation
Context – rural or urban
Ability of community to cope
Consideration of those secondarily
affected by disaster i.e. host community
Mandate of the host National Society
Immediate shelter response…
Informed assessments – what are affected
households doing themselves to meet their
shelter needs and how can we assist them?
Use Sphere 2004 Shelter Checklist – adapt
as needed. (Chapter 4 Appendix 1 Pg 238)
Informed shelter programming within
initial National Society responses and
Preliminary Appeals– tarpaulins/plastic
sheeting alone is relief NOT shelter
programming
Basic shelter recommendations…
Informed by assessment, observation and
checking with households what they need
Step 1: Plastic sheeting + tools + fixings +
additional materials = shelter kit
Step 2: Appropriate local roofing, framing and
walling materials as required + tools (+ cash?)
+ better building promotion/”construction
theatre” = safe adequate & durable shelter
Step 1 buys time to develop a Step 2 approach
Step 2 should be preferred to Step 1 where
opportunities and resources permit
Shelter in disaster response…
“Shelter solutions should enable
affected households to
incrementally upgrade from
emergency to durable
solutions as soon as possible
subject to the availability of
the additional resources
required”
Shelter beyond disaster response…
Transitional shelter and/or permanent
housing – self-help or contracted
Shelter/housing as a livelihoods vehicle
Promoting access to safe, adequate and
durable housing
Settlement planning to reduce risks and
vulnerabilities
Community-based risk reduction through
safer housing and emergency shelter
management
Policy and advocacy on housing and land
tenure issues
