Thermal comfort in extreme climate conditions in refugee shelters
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2020
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Abstract
"There are more than 60 million people living in displacement situations worldwide due to natural disasters or conflicts. The recent refugee crisis has led to increased displacement rates and humanitarian organizations have set up temporary camps to accommodate those displaced populations. In most cases, refugees and internally displaced persons will end up living in these camps for years. However, despite existing for so long, refugee camps are still conveyed as inhumane in either the treatment or housing of refugees as they lack security and many other important aspects. All shelters that are designed and provided by NGOs and humanitarian agencies are all made same, out of the same light-weight structure that cannot withstand the extreme cold weather nor the high heat of the summer, and do not provide the inhabitants with comfortable conditions, which makes these sites more dangerous to live in. Aside from issues that arise such as health care, education, water, the design of shelters is most of the time forgotten, even though shelters are highly susceptible to extreme weather and difficult conditions, which can in extreme situations eventually lead to death. It is necessary to provide shelters in emergency situations to protect the population and help against their climate, and to give them some privacy. As it is also very important to increase the thermal performance of emergency shelters to enhance their interior comfort. Long-term encampment is an increasing aspect of a rising refugee crisis. There is hence the need to ensure that shelters have an environment that is secure and acceptable. [...] The thesis will first look into the meaning of a shelter, through defining it , explaining its classifications and categories that are defined by various NGOs. Then the concept of thermal will be further explained. After having done that, an analysis of the existing refugee shelters in Jordan will then lead to further understanding the difficulties refugees face on a daily basis in their shelters, which will all eventually lead to a possible solution to help refugee regain their safety and ensure their thermal comfort."