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North-West Syria Hub

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Dignified and Safer Living Conditions

After a decade of conflict, the shelter sector in Syria needs to reflect a range of humanitarian shelter options that provide safety, dignity and protection in a context of protracted displacement. These options should also support the choices made by IDPs themselves in finding adequate shelter. Adequate humanitarian shelter options can vary according to the needs, urgency and circumstances of the IDPs themselves.

Dignified and safer living conditions are not only relevant to the shelter response, they are vital protection actions, especially considering that IDP sites in NWS are made up of mainly women (22%) and children (58%).

It is crucial to acknowledge that shelter is a process. Families may move between the options that are outlined here as their circumstances change. Within this range of options, it is important to consider both immediate life-saving shelter needs as well as Temporary Dignified Shelters that can have a longer life span and afford greater levels of protection.

 

Guidance Documents

Dignified and Safer Living Conditions Guidance - North West Syria

The Dignified and Safer Living Conditions guidance addresses the complex, inter-sectoral challenges of protracted displacement and the need to provide dignified shelter and living conditions to those living in IDP site through:

1.    Upgrading of IDP sites to transition IDPs living in tents and other inadequate living conditions to dignified shelters.
2.    Promoting integrated multi-sector site planning including drainage, sewage, water, roads, lighting, electricity, early recovery and livelihoods, education and health.
3.    Ensuring that affected people are central to all planning and advocacy efforts.

Action Plan for Dignified Shelter & Living Conditions in NW Syria

 

The action plan outlines how to transition IDPs living in tents to dignified shelters that are better suited to protracted displacement, and promotes integrated multi-sector site planning.

 

Dignified Shelters Technical Guidance

 

This technical annex outlines the key elements and standards to be considered when designing, rehabilitating or installing shelters at IDP sites in NW Syria. This technical guidance can be utilized to develop shelter solutions in accordance with these parameters. The guidance also provides a number of case studies of designs which have been piloted in NW Syria. The information provided should be used to inform the development of future shelter response activities.

Conceptual Framework: Dignified and Safer Living Conditions for IDPs in Protracted Crises: North West Syria

 

The Conceptual Framework documents and endorses the need for a range of shelter options that are appropriate to a range of shelter needs. These include immediate, life-saving interventions as well as humanitarian shelter solutions that reflect situations of protracted displacement and build on the choices that are already being made by IDPs themselves. 

 

Arabic - Conceptual Framework: Dignified and Safer Living Conditions for IDPs in Protracted Crises: North West Syria

 

The Conceptual Framework on Dignified and Safer Living Conditions for IDPs in Protracted Crises has been translated into Arabic with the aim of making it more widely accessible.