Surprising Facts About Refugee Camps

When there is war and political crisis in a country, citizens have no option but to seek asylum in peaceful nations.

Where do they settle? Are there sites explicitly designed to accommodate displaced people? No country budgets for refugees.

It’s like foreseeing war ahead. Refugees are temporary structures constructed to accommodate the emerging number of people fleeing their war-torn zones.

The sanitation conditions in a refugee camp are an issue due to the numbers and the limited number of resources. Humanitarian organizations come in handy to support various programs for the safety and comfort of the refugee.

 

The little privileges we experience in our homes are dreams for refugee camp settlers. Here are surprising facts about refugee camps.

  1. Pit latrines are communal despite gender.

As you plan for a pit latrine considering the location and other sanitation standards, that is a vocabulary in the refugee camps.

Everything is done in a rush to minimize the further humanitarian crisis. Funds are also an issue due to bureaucracy for the funds to reach the target market from the humanitarian organizations.

For these reasons, the available pit latrines are for all despite gender. A pit latrine is the easiest and cheapest to construct now that water is also an issue for them to afford the flush toilet.

The luxury of modern sanitation facilities is only in-home setups and not in refugee camps.

  1. Settlement is by blocks, families, and communities.

Although it’s the wish of the camp administrators to have a settlement within the camp, the overwhelming numbers may not allow a stratified kind of settlement.

Refugees from different nations or other tribes are challenging to manage since the communication barrier is also an issue. Cultural differences are also factors to consider as you organize their settlement within the camp.

Some come as families and separating them while in the center is next to impossible. That explains why you have no option but to settle them in blocks, families, and communities to alleviate the challenges.

    1. The refugee camp is a result of a humanitarian crisis.

    Who leaves their comfortable homes to stay in a refugee camp? The deplorable condition is a turnoff; although refugees have no option, after all, it’s a better place to call home.

    Some of the reasons they flee their country include

    • War
    • Tribal clashes and conflicts
    • Natural calamities (drought, floods, storms)
    • Political instability
    • Population pressure
    • Search for basic facilities
    •  

    The humanitarian crisis in refugee camps threatens the health status of the occupants.

    Their well-being is at stake, and many deaths are reported, including deficiency syndromes and sanitation crises. Non Governmental organizations try their best to provide basic facilities to alleviate any fatalities.

    1. Fifty percent of refugee camp occupants are women and children

    Naturally, women are weaker species, and they are caretakers of their children. During a political crisis in a country, the men are the front liners in the political fight.

    Many die in the line of duty, leaving the women helpless and fleeing with their children lest they be victims of circumstances now that they are vulnerable.

      1. Refugee camps are a cash cow to the communities.

      Despite the situation, the refugees must eat, cloth, and get basic facilities. The longer the refugee camps, the better the social and economic welfare of the surrounding communities.

       

      Some have become towns and even cities since it becomes a booming business in the supply of food and other basic needs. The camp alone is a market for most companies providing basic facilities.

      1. Illiteracy levels in refugee camps are very high.

      A school needs the numbers, you may have several children, but they are all in different classes that may not meet a quorum.

      That means there is a delay in school continuation. Administrators also have to gauge the weight of the crisis; is it temporary or permanent for them to decide whether to start a school or not.

      The older boys and girls prefer to pursue other things rather than education, increasing the illiteracy levels. However, with stability, they have the best form of primary education, including vocational training.

Chronic malnutritionis not new in the home of refugees.
As you plan for thousands of refugees, you have another set of thousands coming in as they flee their native countries within no time.

The little food must be shared among all. Before you get funds for the additional refugees, children suffer from chronic malnutrition since you can provide them with all the needs, especially those requiring more attention.

 

  1. The temporary structures become permanent homes for refugees.

The presence of the refugee camps depends on the level of the crisis of their host countries. As temporary as people may think, they become permanent homes as long as the host countries accept them and their native lands are still unstable.

Some become comfortable because they never want to go back to their countries for an emotional breakdown. That’s why the host countries choose to close the camp, for they are also a habitat for criminals.

 

 

  1. Humanitarian workers at the camp are highly paid.

The risks involved in handling the refugee should come with attractive salaries and allowances.

Moreover, the location of the camps is at the border points where access to services and modern facilities is impossible. The only way to make the place attractive is not only t provide the facilities and adequately remunerate them.

Did you know that there is a stable WI-FI network in a refugee camp? That makes them easy to communicate with their families and also for public record information to protect than against hackers from their hard-earned money.

    1. The risk of disease outbreaks is very high.

    Due to the high number of people compared to the available facilities, an outbreak of diseases is very high, which doesn’t spare the workers. High remuneration and a comprehensive medical cover are essential for the workers.

    They also need to be guarded against online criminals who pretend to be refugees. The family plan is mandatory for the workers; you are, in the vast majority, anything can happen.

    The administration unit is organized with systematic and streamlined operations.

    Despite the emerging humanitarian crisis, the administration and management of the refugee camps are in an organized environment with clear-cut guidelines and policies that govern their operations.

    It’s never a walk in the park to stay in a refugee camp, but there is still hope when you use the available resources to your advantage.