URBIZEN

An article I read in SF Gate, led me to think about innovations in disaster relief shelters and their actual practical usability within the context of culture, politics and economy. How does theoretical architectural innovation in diasater relief shelter fit in with the realities of the situation, with political will, and above all, peoples need? Architects, engineers and designers have spent years bent over their drawing boards trying to come up with the most ideal solution for providing shelters for a people left homeless in a diaster (natural or unnatural). But somehow the results don't justify the hours and years spent by a people considered the most creative. "As many experts on emergency housing have pointed out, temporary post-disaster communities often put down roots and stick around. From the shantytowns of Rio de Janeiro to Palestinian refugee camps in Syria, decent temporary structures often end up functioning as woefully inadequate permanent dwellings that sometime...

A new report by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme warns world governments of a worsening urban housing crisis if they cannot come up with the money to build 96,150 houses per day for an additional 2 billion city-dwellers by 2030. Continue reading ...

This is an appeal from "Architecture for Humanity": "On October 8th a 7.6 magnitude earthquake rocked the region near Kashmir, less than 65 miles from Islamabad, Pakistan. Three major cities were completely destroyed: Muzaffarabad, Mansehra, Balakot and hundreds of villages are still unreachable by the rescue teams. The death toll currently stands at 41,000, with over 70,000 injured. An estimated 3.3 million who have lost their homes. There are critical concerns that the lack of treatment for many of those injured, combined with shortage of water and sanitation facilities will lead to increased fatalities. The area that was hit is quite mountainous, difficult to reach and in less than three weeks the typical harsh and cold winter will descend on the region. The real need is not only in relief and recovery but the transitional and long term shelter needs of those displaced - shelter that must be earthquake resistant for the future. Many more will die due to inadequate pro...

These shelter boxes have been sponsored by Rotary International and contain the basic tools needed to survive in a disaster region, a rugged 10 person tent, 10 sleeping bags, shovels, medicine box, cooking aids. Visit: http://www.shelterbox.org/f_intro.html

ITDG - Intermediate Technology Development Group has released a technical brief on earthquake housing. Click here to view the Technical Brief . For more information on other services provided by ITDG visit: http://www.itdg.org/

The UN-HABITAT has come out with it's latest Disaster Management Report. And important part of the report is the tools prescribed by the UN. These tools seek to help develop practical applications for broader concerns in settlements crisis management. They look at issues such as gender, land tenure and sustainable development and work to equip practitioners at all levels - in the international system, in national and local government and in civil society - to implement programmes in post conflict and disaster settings that promote the broader aim of sustainable relief. The link: http://www.unhabitat.org/programmes/rdmu/tools.asp

Shabbir Kazmi of "Project Lifeline" is initiating an effort to provide drinking water and water for sanitation in creative ways. Old shipment containers are being refurbished to transport and supply water to the disaster prone areas. To find out more about "Project Lifeline" and ways to help, visit: www.project-lifeline.org/

Builders Without Borders is an organization that can prove very effective in disaster housing through their technology, resources, training and volunteers. "We are an international network of ecological builders who form partnerships with communities and organizations around the world to create affordable housing from local materials and to work together for a sustainable future. We believe the solution to homelessness is not merely housing, but a local population trained to provide housing for themselves." Housing is a human right - yet increasing numbers of people are homeless, due to war and environmental disasters. In Kosovo alone, an estimated 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, while recent flooding in Vietnam has left 2 million homeless. After initial disaster relief, longer-term solutions such as transitional housing are required, as well as the restoration or replacement of homes in devastated areas. Permanent housing is also needed for the chronically underhou...