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Photo: Returnee house, in Giterany
Additional observations:
A number of local houses have either tile roofing or iron sheet roofs. While tile
roofs are cheaper than iron sheeting (and lasts approximately the same amount of
time), the shelter requires a greater level of reinforcement to support the additional
weight associated with tiles.
Some beneficiaries have planted banana trees in the pits left open from mud
excavation. This is a useful practice which can be combined with composting,
using the pits as a disposal pit for biodegradable materials and kitchen waste.
Examples of rainwater collection recipients and systems were evident.
NRC gives 50 saplings (Grevillea) per family following the completion of a home.
It is not clear how many are planted, but follow-up from NRC reported that on
average, 25 per cent of the saplings have been observed to exist after one year.
Apparently the decision of the species given was not made with the involvement of
the beneficiaries. Such a lack of consultation is often found to be a reason for poor
survival rates though there are other contributory factors, including limited
compound space and the need to optimise family gardens for food production.
While many of the returnees are aware of how to make clay fuel-efficient stoves
from their time in refugee camps in Tanzania, there is not a widespread use of such
stoves. This indicates that firewood is widely accessible and there is no incentive
to use such stoves. Where shortages are present, beneficiaries would use skills,
such as making fuel-efficient stoves, in order to reduce the amount of wood
consumed.
3.4.3 Materials
A visit to a local supplier and discussions with NRC staff revealed that NRC Burundi
shelter staff have excellent knowledge of the origin and production techniques of all
materials used in the above shelter projects and that the advantages and disadvantages
have been carefully considered before selection. A NRC logistics database which has
recently been launched keeps track of supplier and contractor performances.
Local materials including wood, stones, fired bricks and mud are all sourced locally by
contractors. NRC demands certificates for the wood but cannot be certain as to the
exact origin of this product. Stones and fired bricks are usually bought locally,
minimising the needs for transportation. Mud for adobe bricks is usually excavated onsite.
Construction in this context is dependent on a range of suppliers and sources, as
indicated below:
aluminium and/or zinc coated metal roofing sheets originate from Uganda or
Kenya;
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