Justice, Equity, and Sustainability Environmental Degradation and Human Inequity within Dadaab Refugee Mitchell Sipus 2008

Problem Although a great deal of literature exists for the planning of refugee camps, such camps continue to pose a threat to the natural environment and are concentrations of human inequity.

Although a great deal of literature exists for the planning of refugee camps, such camps continue to pose a threat to the natural environment and are concentrations of human inequity.

Problem If such camps will continue to exist, how can they be better planned to offset the negative environmental impact and support the empowerment of the refugee community?

If such camps will continue to exist, how can they be better planned to offset the negative environmental impact and support the empowerment of the refugee community?

Camp Planning Literature Transitional Settlement / Displaced Persons , Oxfam and University of Cambridge 2005 UNHCR Handbook on Emergency Settlements , 2004 SPHERE – Human Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response 2004 Temporary Human Settlement Planning for Displaced Populations in Emergencies , Overseas Development Institute 1998 Studies on Emergency and Disaster Relief: Shelter Provision and Settlement Policies for Refugees , Nordika Afrikaininstitutet 1995

Transitional Settlement / Displaced Persons , Oxfam and University of Cambridge 2005

UNHCR Handbook on Emergency Settlements , 2004

SPHERE – Human Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response 2004

Temporary Human Settlement Planning for Displaced Populations in Emergencies , Overseas Development Institute 1998

Studies on Emergency and Disaster Relief: Shelter Provision and Settlement Policies for Refugees , Nordika Afrikaininstitutet 1995

Case Study: Dadaab

Dadaab Kenya Somalia

K E N Y A S O M A L I A Dadaab

Dominant Structures Historical Political Social Physical Theoretical Camp Planning

Historical

Political

Social

Physical

Theoretical

Dominant Structures Historical European Refugees War Camps Political Cold War Developments in Refugee Policy Multi-Lateral Agency Goals Host Country Goals Source of Conflict or purpose for migration

Historical

European Refugees

War Camps

Political

Cold War Developments in Refugee Policy

Multi-Lateral Agency Goals

Host Country Goals

Source of Conflict or purpose for migration

Dominant Structures Social Relations between refugees and host population Relations between refugee groups Interaction of native practices and new context

Social

Relations between refugees and host population

Relations between refugee groups

Interaction of native practices and new context

Dominant Structures Physical Characteristics and demands of settlement location Characteristics of available infrastructure

Physical

Characteristics and demands of settlement location

Characteristics of available infrastructure

Dominant Structures Theoretical Consideration of Camp as Heterotopia Inside / Outside implications of Heterotopia Panopticon barren landscape

Theoretical

Consideration of Camp as Heterotopia

Inside / Outside implications of Heterotopia

Panopticon

barren landscape

Observed consequences of present camp plan Environmental Deterioration Aid Assistance vs. Aid Dependence Poor distribution of goods and services Breaking down of traditions, social institutions, needless increase of poverty Segregation Security vs. Threat?

Environmental Deterioration

Aid Assistance vs. Aid Dependence

Poor distribution of goods and services

Breaking down of traditions, social institutions, needless increase of poverty

Segregation

Security vs. Threat?

Observed consequences of present camp plan Reinforcements of existing power structures Lack of focus on development Presents complications to data collection

Reinforcements of existing power structures

Lack of focus on development

Presents complications to data collection

Environmental Impact

Social Consequences of Environmental Impact Violence Sexual Abuse Difficult to raise animals Incurs greater expense on refugees Deteriorates opportunities for agriculture Forces stronger security protocol by UNHCR, creating greater friction between agencies and refugees

Violence

Sexual Abuse

Difficult to raise animals

Incurs greater expense on refugees

Deteriorates opportunities for agriculture

Forces stronger security protocol by UNHCR, creating greater friction between agencies and refugees

… Poor physical planning strains the environment and a strained environment demands that additional demands be met by agencies Distribution of these demands is critical

Poor physical planning strains the environment and a strained environment demands that additional demands be met by agencies

Distribution of these demands is critical

Landscape and Planning Planning Processes to offset Environmental Impact Ration Distribution Center Firewood Distribution Center Local UNHCR and Medical Facilities for Assistance Site Planning and Green Belt for new settlements Delivery of Soil for house construction at IFO2

Planning Processes to offset Environmental Impact

Ration Distribution Center

Firewood Distribution Center

Local UNHCR and Medical Facilities for Assistance

Site Planning and Green Belt for new settlements

Delivery of Soil for house construction at IFO2

Access to Goods and Services

Access to Goods and Services Firewood

Firewood

Access to Goods and Services Firewood Rations

Firewood

Rations

Access to Goods and Services Firewood Rations UN services

Firewood

Rations

UN services

Access to Goods and Services Firewood Rations UN services Medical

Firewood

Rations

UN services

Medical

Access to Goods and Services Firewood Rations UN services medical 20 Minutes

Firewood

Rations

UN services

medical

Access to Goods and Services Firewood Rations UN services Medical Protected Block 20 Minutes

Firewood

Rations

UN services

Medical

Physical demands of food ration distribution Population located farthest from distribution center

Fire Wood Distribution Center

Consequences of Present Plan Benefit - Agencies incur least expense and difficulty for deliverance of aid Loss - Increased tension and miscommunication between agencies and refugees Loss - Sense of hopelessness for refugees furthering dependence on agencies Loss - Those in the most need are the least served through the physical distribution of infrastructure and services causing additional costs by institution over time

Benefit - Agencies incur least expense and difficulty for deliverance of aid

Loss - Increased tension and miscommunication between agencies and refugees

Loss - Sense of hopelessness for refugees furthering dependence on agencies

Loss - Those in the most need are the least served through the physical distribution of infrastructure and services causing additional costs by institution over time

Consequences of Present Plan Loss - Reinforced power structure also reinforces instability and insecurity within camps Loss - Agencies must continually apply more severe security measures placing further restraints upon an already displaced, and impoverished population, relegating the refugee to the status of a prisoner. Cause….effect…cause…effect… Example: Tree removal – conflict, segregation, agricultural impact, and security measures

Loss - Reinforced power structure also reinforces instability and insecurity within camps

Loss - Agencies must continually apply more severe security measures placing further restraints upon an already displaced, and impoverished population, relegating the refugee to the status of a prisoner.

Cause….effect…cause…effect…

Example: Tree removal – conflict, segregation, agricultural impact, and security measures

Given the protocol of existing power structures, the greatest threat to the refugee population is the Police

Given the existing frameworks which determine refugee camp planning, a more sensitive approach to the local environment and existing social capital will reduce costs and need for security/protection measures for agencies as scarce resources will be more equitably distributed. Conclusion

Given the existing frameworks which determine refugee camp planning, a more sensitive approach to the local environment and existing social capital will reduce costs and need for security/protection measures for agencies as scarce resources will be more equitably distributed.

Implications and Opportunities Solutions which redistribute the balance of power within existing structures are unlikely to ever be implemented Thus there is a demand for creative solutions for Planning of refugee settlements One strategy is to engage refugee camps as projects of community development, not as political fiascos.

Solutions which redistribute the balance of power within existing structures are unlikely to ever be implemented

Thus there is a demand for creative solutions for Planning of refugee settlements

One strategy is to engage refugee camps as projects of community development, not as political fiascos.

Environment Site Planning should conform to landscape, not fight against it As the site locations of services are of crucial significance, it is imperative that planners consider access for all populations Look toward alternative conceptions of infrastructure

Site Planning should conform to landscape, not fight against it

As the site locations of services are of crucial significance, it is imperative that planners consider access for all populations

Look toward alternative conceptions of infrastructure

Environment and Community Need for a Development oriented approach to planning as opposed to Long Term Planning Infrastructure can move beyond basic necessities: high technology, communications, money transfers, modern finance and judicial systems should be considered relevant options to refugee populations Perhaps approach development as the removal of “bottlenecks” to development, vs. installation of expensive infrastructure and services, thus considering social overhead as a starting point and not a later consideration – after all, ‘building capacity’ is generally of greater interest to consultants and agencies than the actual populations.

Need for a Development oriented approach to planning

as opposed to Long Term Planning

Infrastructure can move beyond basic necessities: high technology, communications, money transfers, modern finance and judicial systems should be considered relevant options to refugee populations

Perhaps approach development as the removal of “bottlenecks” to development, vs. installation of expensive infrastructure and services, thus considering social overhead as a starting point and not a later consideration – after all, ‘building capacity’ is generally of greater interest to consultants and agencies than the actual populations.

Community Need for new methods for determining existing or overhead social capital Instead of attempting to build capacity, search for viable channels to exercise existing capacity Demand for clearly defined methods for incorporation of refugee participation within decision making processes

Need for new methods for determining existing or overhead social capital

Instead of attempting to build capacity, search for viable channels to exercise existing capacity

Demand for clearly defined methods for incorporation of refugee participation within decision making processes

Thank you for your attention!