Problem assessment and comprehensive response
Access to adequate shelter remains a serious concern, especially for vulnerable IDPs. IDP and returnee families suffer from a severe housing shortage and inflation of rent, often living in overcrowded and substandard dwellings or in destroyed or damaged homes. While some 220,000 IDPs are living in 25 formally established IDP camps, a majority of IDPs have found alternative solutions in informal collective settlements such as empty school buildings, religious compounds and unused government structures. Approximately 65,000 IDP families are also living in unfinished houses and buildings.
UNHCR anticipates that some 400,000 IDPs will be able to return in 2016. This will lead to fewer numbers of IDPs in camps and the probable closure and consolidation of other camps. Additional shelter support will continue to be required in order to repair and rehabilitate the damaged houses in return locations. UNHCR is planning to target 10,000 shelter units for repair and rehabilitations in 2016.
UNHCR is not planning to establish/construct new camps in 2016. All IDPs living in camps constructed by UNHCR should have a concrete slab under their tent and access to an individual kitchen by the end of 2015. Further repair and maintenance of the current camps will be prioritized. A total of 69 structures for repair and maintenance (including roads) are planned in 2016. In line with the Policy on Alternatives to Camps, UNHCR will replace 8,000 tents with Refugee Housing Units (RHU) in order to provide semi-stable and sustainable shelter structures.
Prioritized response
UNHCR will focus on advocacy activities with the Government and prioritize the construction and repair of shelters for the most vulnerable IDP families. Should insufficient funding be mobilized, UNHCR’s prioritized response will be limited to repairing and rehabilitating 1,300 shelter units, improving the living conditions in 335 collective centres, readying 2,000 tents for emergency response purposes, and providing 1,400 Refugee Housing Units (RHUs) to replace tents.