UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies - UNHCR eCentre

Public Buildings and Communal
Facilities
◆ Public buildings should be used only as
short term accommodation to gain time to
provide more suitable shelter;
◆ Right from the beginning, intensive maintenance
of infrastructure and utilities should
be provided;
◆ The UNHCR shelter standards should be
applied.
94. Public buildings such as schools are
sometimes used initially as shelter. This is
particularly the case in cold conditions which
demand very rapid shelter response.
95. Where possible such accommodation in
public buildings should be a temporary solution.
The supporting infrastructure of the
building (water, electricity, sanitation) will deteriorate
very quickly with concentrated use,
to the extent that living conditions can become
dangerously unhealthy. The buildings
decay rapidly primarily because they are unsuited
to such large numbers and lack the
necessary infrastructure and utilities. In addition
the very low sense of responsibility by its
inhabitants contributes to the deterioration.
96. The normal use of the building has to be
suspended with various social and economic
consequences (the buildings might otherwise
be used for example as schools, sanatoria,
workers’ or students’ dormitories, sports halls
and hotels). Both local and national governments
are therefore reluctant to transform
public buildings into humanitarian shelter.
97. In order to ensure a healthy environment,
it is particularly important to ensure
regular operational and preventive maintenance
in public buildings. Neglecting to maintain
a building from the outset can have
serious health consequences for the refugees,
and economic consequences for the host government.
98. The UNHCR minimum shelter standard
of some 3.5 to 5.5 m2 per person should be
applied, as well as the standard for public
sanitation (maximum 20 persons per toilet/latrine).
Public buildings, such as schools, are
not equipped to serve the sanitation needs of
large populations including basic toilet use, as
well as personal hygiene such as laundry and
cleaning dishes.
Site Selection, Planning
and Shelter
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