shelter after disaster
urbanisation what needs to be included in any emergency shelter programme is the assurance of ‘building back better’. Essentially insuring that anything built after disaster is built with the participation of the local population, with materials that are locally sourced and fit for purpose, and that all hazards encountered in the locality have been properly considered.
Q
Many people have discussed the ‘complexities’ of shelter, explain
what you mean by this. The complexities are born out of a number of issues. We are witnessing, globally, an increase in urban disasters, a consequence of increased urbanisation, caused by rural to urban migration and increasing population in the cities of low to middle income nations of the world. In an urban environment shelter provision becomes even more problematic. Land ownership issues and property rights can be obstacles to providing rapid shelter solutions to disaster-affected populations. Timescales imposed by media and donors can also further complicate solutions. Governments can lack formal procedures and records that could otherwise smooth the path to effective provision.
i “Shelter
s about more than just providing a place to live and
has far reaching implications in terms of people’s identity, liveli-
hood and income generation. We need to get it right first time.
”
Michele Young, Architect, and student on the pilot Shelter After Disaster module.
Q
What is one of the main things that you hope this course will
teach? An understanding of the practical approaches available through case studies and the experience of invited experts in the field, as well as a realistic view of the difficulties and issues faced by emergency relief and recovery teams.
ABBREVIATIONS: *SAD – Shelter After Disaster *CENDEP – the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice at Oxford Brookes University
www.brookes.ac.uk
engineers or indeed adherence to a national building code, then buildings can be prone to the effects of hazards such as floods, earthquakes and landslides. However, protection from disaster includes more than just technical mitigation, it also needs to involve communities in understanding the risks they face and involving them in processes that ensure they understand where to go and what to do when a specific disaster strikes.
Q
What effect do you hope that it will have on architects
working in a changing climate? As stated earlier the SAD course is not specifically targeting architects, but what the course will provide is an overview of the issues facing the sector and grounding in the strategic policies governing shelter provision. The practical aspects of providing shelter after disaster are also included in the form of workshops and guidance on the role of a ‘shelter practitioner’.
Q
With the climate in constant change, what do you see in our
future of building and ‘shelter’? In response to climate changes and rapid
Quoted: Here’s what people have been saying about
the impending course...
“Students on this course are specifically trained in providing shelter after disaster. Aid organisations are currently developing strategies using their practical experi- ence, but without the shared expertise of the wider picture. Our knowledge can inform and improve on that strategy and will be invaluable in the field.”
“The Centre for Development and Emergency Practice at Oxford Brookes has major credibility amongst relief organisations and the network of senior contacts they have here is incredible.” David Curtis, Project Manager.
“The aid agencies need to understand the complexities of shelter to get it right. The theory and practical information is co-ordinated here at Oxford Brookes and the uni- versity has the network of contacts to disseminate and share that knowledge.”
“The course looks at the complexities of shelter with a cross-cutting dimension, as part of a broader picture within disaster responses. It considers how shelter impacts on every part of life, rather than simply standing alone. That’s why I prefer the term ‘housing’ rather than shelter. It’s more long-term.” Caroline Dewast, Architecture Student on the pilot Shelter After Disaster module.
“There are many people working in the field of shelter without understanding the complexities involved and the funda- mental effects the provision of shelter can have on recovery and people’s lives.” Jessica F Carlson, Development Worker
Architects Choice 33
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