Thesis 100dpi

RECREATION AND LEISURE
Recreation and leisure are almost never mentioned in the context
of a refugee camp. In UNCHR’s Handbook for Emergencies, which is
widely used for planning refugee camps, these aspects of human life
are mentioned nowhere. In fact, they may be intentionally omitted
because they are considered disrespectful in a situation of desperation.
The support systems and protocols address only basic survival,
and are limited to the provision of food and medications.
By contrast, Sahrawi districts provide spaces for various social activities:
weddings, tea ceremonies, and distribution centers that convert
into places for socializing, meeting and playing. Cultural activities,
such as youth theaters and painting, are also widely encouraged.
Inhabitants of this enhanced camp are also encouraged to pursue
sports. Football is the favourite and is played almost everywhere,
from empty spaces between dwellings to proper football fields located
in the center of each camp.
97 LIFE IN LIMBO
Camps
The camp spreads as new refugees
arrive. The tents are replaced or
supplemented by huts. Initially
rigid organization changes to a
more fluid or informal layout. Some
families, needing additional space,
move to the periphery of the camp
which results in blurring of the
camp’s borders.
Urban fabric
Rigid order of tents gets dissolved
and a more ‘‘organic’’ organization
begins to emerge. Starting with
single huts, households build new
additional objects. More recently,
these objects are surrounded by
walls creating enclosed courtyards,
separating in that way private from
public space.
Housing Typologies
When camps were established, the
refugees used to live in tents that
are donated by Algerian government
following the ones donated
by UNHCR . Later they build clay
huts and more recently the ones
made of cement bricks. All typologies
are still present in the camps
nowadays.