1. Site selection and camp planning 247
This session looks at self-settled and planned IDP and refugee camps, following both natural disaster and
conflict
Burundi, 1995

2. Session objectives !
The key learning objectives of this session are to form an
understanding of:
camps in conflicts and natural disasters
self-settled camps and planned camps
managing influx
evaluating and selecting sites
laying out a camp
scheduling and managing works
closure of a camp

3. Session objectives !
The key learning objectives of this session are to form an
understanding of:
camps in conflicts and natural disasters
self-settled camps and planned camps
managing influx
evaluating and selecting sites
laying out a camp
scheduling and managing works
closure of a camp

4. Camps in conflicts and natural disasters
Macedonia FYR, 2005
Camps following natural disasters:
should be as close as safely possible to where the community used to live so that they may remain close to their livelihoods, property, belongings, crops and livestock
should exist for as short a time period as possible, until there is no further risk from the hazard
Camps following conflicts:
should be at a safe distance from the conflict
care should be taken to ensure that political factions or ethnic groups do not dominate
political or ethnic groups that are hostile to each other should be segregated through planning and dispersing settlement
should be planned for medium term occupation through phased development and expansion

5. Session objectives !
The key learning objectives of this session are to form an
understanding of:
camps in conflicts and natural disasters
self-settled camps and planned camps
managing influx
evaluating and selecting sites
laying out a camp
scheduling and managing works
closure of a camp

6. Self-settled and planned camps
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
Self-settled and planned camps are two of the six transitional settlement options for displaced populations:
host families
rural self-settlement
urban self-settlement
collective centres
self-settled camps
planned camps
The vast majority of camps are self-settled
Camps may be supported because they are convenient to the government or to humanitarian organisations
Except in special circumstances, such as extreme insecurity, camps should be a last resort following both conflicts and disasters
Preference should be given to supporting other transitional options selected by affected populations, such as through rural and urban self-settlement

7. Session objectives !
The key learning objectives of this session are to form an
understanding of:
camps in conflicts and natural disasters
self-settled camps and planned camps
managing influx
evaluating and selecting sites
laying out a camp
scheduling and managing works
closure of a camp

8. Contingency plan for supporting camps
A contingency plan should be a part of an integrated strategy that
includes other transitional settlement options such as host
families
A contingency plan should include:
A. forming committees to consider site selection, planning, standards, assessments and coordination
B. identifying a series of sites for camps before displacement occurs, preparing sites and stock-piling materials
The plan should also include:
estimated size of the affected population
estimated time, duration, size and location of influxes
initial schedule and management of works (Gantt chart)

9. Dispersal of camps
Pakistan, 2005
For each camp consider the needs of affected populations, host populations and the environment.
Is one big camp preferable to several smaller camps?
The dispersal of camps may have positive or negative impacts on:
access to livelihoods
vulnerability to hazards
vulnerability to internal and
and external threats
relations with host populations
diversity of water sources
environment and natural resource
management as illustrated

10. Maintaining communities
Pakistan, 2006
Keep communities together as much as possible. Reflect communities belonging to different villages in a neighbourhood structure in a larger camp
community A A B
community B C
community C D
community D
Maintain similar spatial environments of affected populations:
rural populations often prefer larger family plots and additional grazing and farmland, or space for kitchen gardens
urban populations often prefer smaller plots and close proximity

11. Session objectives !
The key learning objectives of this session are to form an
understanding of:
camps in conflicts and natural disasters
self-settled camps and planned camps
managing influx
evaluating and selecting sites
laying out a camp
scheduling and managing works
closure of a camp

12. Evaluating and selecting sites
Malta, 2007
The site of a self-settled camp needs to be evaluated
Sites for planned camps need to be identified, prioritised and
selected
Assess sites in relation to:
security and hazards
land tenure and use
access routes
topography, ground conditions and climate
water resources
impacts on the host population
potential for future growth
impacts on environment including available natural resources such as fuel wood

13. Self-settled camps: evaluating sites 103
Self-settled camps are established in an emergency phase without reference to international standards
Detailed assessment of self-settled camps is required in order to
decide whether to:
select a new site in consultation with the displaced
population and host populations
upgrade the infrastructure and facilities of the existing camp
Liberia, 1998

14. Planned camps: selecting sites 106
Through participation, involve all stakeholders in identifying the
positive and negative factors of each potential camp location in
order to reach consensus on appropriate site selection
All sites will have negative factors which will affect the host
and affected community to varying degrees
For each site list and compare positive and negative factors:
for the displaced population
on the host community
on the environment
for government and assisting agencies
Albania, 1999

15. Session objectives !
The key learning objectives of this session are to form an
understanding of:
camps in conflicts and natural disasters
self-settled camps and planned camps
managing influx
evaluating and selecting sites
laying out a camp
scheduling and managing works
closure of a camp

16. Laying out a camp
106
Planned camps
Before laying out a camp, the following steps can be
undertaken:
1. identify possible sites
decide on size and numbers of camps
determine how to maintain and group communities
phase the plan to stay ahead of influx
plan for future growth and contingencies for scenarios
confirm site borders and land and resource use with local populations, affected populations, authorities and agencies
map topography and features such as rock outcroppings, etc.
plan access route
map contour routes
locate key facilities
plan utilities
plan sectors, blocks and communities
DRC, 2008

17. Sectors, blocks and communities
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
A camp with approx. 20,000 inhabitants (4 sectors)
Fire breaks:30m per built-up 300m
Roads and water follow contours
Administrative centre in the middle
Each sector with approx. 5,000 inhabitants (4 blocks)
fire breaks: 15m between blocks
should contain central/recreational spaces
Each block having approx. 1,250 inhabitants
(16 communities)
fire breaks: 6m (pathways)
The community with approx. 80 inhabitants
(16 plots with 16 shelters)
fire breaks: 2m between dwellings
drainage should be well planned and maintained
drain water must not pollute or cause erosion

18. Central camp facilities
Liberia, 1998
In large camps, distribution centres and clinics may be needed in each sector, while space should be left for shops in each block
infrastructure including:
distribution centre, clinic,
feeding centre
secure logistics compound
supply
public space,
market, school,
recreational area
supply road

19. Controlled water access
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
upstream
Protected collection of water for drinking, cooking and bathing using abstraction galleries, wells, pumps, gravity fed water distribution from tanks
Latrines
and cemeteries must be kept away from water sources
Consider other users and livestock watering downstream
downstream

20. Separate areas for livestock
If animal husbandry is common:
provision should be agreed for grazing or fodder
seasonal activities such as lambing and migrations for
grazing should be considered
provision should be made for hygienic butchery
separate areas should be planned for watering

21. Laying out communities and blocks
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
There are various ways to plan the layout of a community
Options must be explored with the community through
participatory assessment
Different layout options include:
Staggered plan
Hollow square plan
Community road plan

22. Grid planning R R R R S R S W Legend tap stand latrines refuse shop
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005) R R W W W W W R R S W W W W W
latrines
tap stand
Legend
refuse
shop
wash area R S W

23. Hollow square planning
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005) S R S R W W
latrines
tap stand
Legend
refuse
shop
wash area R S W S R

24. Contour planning: terrace
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005) W W W W W W W W R R S
latrines
tap stand
Legend
refuse
shop
wash area R S W W W W W W W R R

25. Contour planning: cul-de-sac
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005) W W W W W R R R S W W
Legend W
tap stand W
latrines W R
refuse
refuse S
shop W
wash area

26. Contour planning
Local villages, towns and settlements usually follow contours
Follow topographic features by responding to:
slope
avoiding steep areas
taking advantage of flat areas
Camps should also follow contours in order to:
maximise land use, when compared to grid planning
minimise hazards such as land-slides, also by stabilizing steep slopes using erosion builds
reduce infrastructure costs maintenance to roads and water
surface drainage

27. Phasing Process to stay ahead of the influx rate
Liberia, 1998
Process to stay ahead of the influx rate
assess number of people in transit
assess when displaced population is expected to arrive
Set up emergency facilities to manage the emergency influx
These include:
reception centre
defecation fields
emergency distribution facilities
Ensure there is sufficient labour capacity at reception centre
to receive and screen people at arrival
to clear brush and mark out sites, avoiding deforestation
Leave space for further development and plan for future
upgrading

28. Upgrading self-settled camps
Phased relocation can be used to upgrade or extend
self-settled camps to international standards with a displaced
population
5 steps to phased relocation:
identify community group
identify additional land adjacent
to the camp or another site
plan the extension with the
participation of the community groups
relocate the community to the new site
repeat process until entire
camp has been relocated or upgraded
Liberia, 1998

29. Session objectives !
The key learning objectives of this session are to form an
understanding of:
camps in conflicts and natural disasters
self-settled camps and planned camps
managing influx
evaluating and selecting sites
laying out a camp
scheduling and managing works
closure of a camp

30. Scheduling and managing works
The following 8 steps may be considered in scheduling and
managing works:
1. ensure permissions of all stakeholders
2. create a schedule of works
procure resources, labour and equipment
(pre-positioning of material, equipment)
4. mark out the site
5. carry out ground preparation
6. build emergency infrastructure
7. upgrade existing infrastructure
8. handover

31. Schedule of works example1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Permissions
Create schedule
Procurement
Ground prep
Mark out site
Emergency infrastructure
Upgrades
Monsoon season
A schedule of works should also include:
who is responsible for each activity
critical milestones and deadlines
critical events, such as monsoons
specific capacities or equipment such as bulldozers

32. Session objectives !
The key learning objectives of this session are to form an
understanding of:
camps in conflicts and natural disasters
self-settled camps and planned camps
managing influx
evaluating and selecting sites
laying out a camp
scheduling and managing works
closure of a camp

33. Camp closure
The closure of a camp must be considered during initial negotiations with government, host populations and displaced populations in order to agree:
land infrastructure (e.g. roads and buildings) improvements suitable to both the camp population, and host population upon handover, such as a therapeutic feeding centre finally being used as a school
the activities that must be undertaken upon closure, such as filling in pit-latrines
environmental recovery programmes
the handover of the land
the handover of purpose built infrastructure and equipment, such as buildings, roads, bore holes and pumps

34. 10 mins Discussion In pairs, discuss:
left side of the room: list advantages of contour planning
right side of the room: list advantages of grid planning
Planning a camp
Contour planning
Grid planning
Each pair agrees a key point
Key point

35. Bibliography
‘Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations’ (Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
‘Handbook for Emergencies’ (UNHCR, 2007)
‘Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards for Disaster Response’ (The Sphere Project, 2004)