Building Low-cost comfy modular towns for displaced people and refugees
Since the onset of the Russian invasion, one-third of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes. This is the largest human displacement crisis in the world today. Over 6 million refugees have been forced to flee Ukraine, while more than 8 million people have been displaced internally within Ukraine and some 13 million people are estimated to be stranded in affected areas or unable to leave due to heightened security risks, destruction of bridges and roads.
The escalation of war in east Ukraine will result in horrific bloodshed and mass displacement from the eastern regions, including Luhansk and Donetsk, re-traumatising communities who have already suffered eight years of hostilities. In some places the escalation may also lead to entire cities being besieged. It’s heart-breaking to think about the horrors these people are forced to relive. Several areas in eastern Ukraine are already on fire or completely in ruins.
Since the onset of the Russian invasion, one-third of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes. This is the largest human displacement crisis in the world today. Over 6 million refugees have been forced to flee Ukraine, while more than 8 million people have been displaced internally within Ukraine and some 13 million people are estimated to be stranded in affected areas or unable to leave due to heightened security risks, destruction of bridges and roads.
The escalation of war in east Ukraine will result in horrific bloodshed and mass displacement from the eastern regions, including Luhansk and Donetsk, re-traumatising communities who have already suffered eight years of hostilities. In some places the escalation may also lead to entire cities being besieged. It’s heart-breaking to think about the horrors these people are forced to relive. Several areas in eastern Ukraine are already on fire or completely in ruins.
Such large-scale displacements could have lasting consequences for generations to come. Meanwhile, Russian attacks, using explosive weapons in populated urban areas, continue to inflict civilian casualties and considerable damage to essential infrastructure and services. As a result of bombing and shelling, houses and residential buildings, schools, hospitals, water systems, power plants, and shelters have been severely damaged or destroyed. We often hear from people, crossing the border, saying with tears in their eyes:
“My home was destroyed. There is nothing to return to. We do not know where we are going to go.”
To address this situation, it is necessary to provide the growing number of people forced to flee with the assistance they need to recover from their trauma and start rebuilding their lives:
BASIC NEEDS:
Protection-Sensitive shelter-accommodation support Access to timely, dignified, accessible and safe accommodation is one of the most pressing needs of refugees. Accommodation assistance will be complemented by the provision of household items.
HYGIENE AND SANITARY NEEDS:
All refugees will have access to safe, private and dignified WASH services, to quality water, sanitation, and hygiene services to enhance dignity and prevent waterborne diseases, associated morbidity and mortality.
Continuous availability of water and sanitary facilities — ranging from safe drinking water, handwashing facilities, showers, maintained lavatories and waste management, hygiene and sanitary items, laundry and washing facilities, private and safe bathrooms — will be provided. It is essential to prevent communicable disease outbreaks and mitigate GBV risks.
EDUCATION
Providing education and recreational supplies for children and adolescents and facilitating access to temporary learning, recreational and early childhood development activities, while supporting inclusion in the national education systems.
To ensure the territorial provision of safe education services to refugees – ranging from early childhood development to higher education, formal and informal through proximity to the near urban center. At the same time, the regional authorities will have to take measures to keep up the level of education due to the sudden increase in population.
LIVELIHOOD & INCLUSION
It is vital to facilitate refugees’ inclusion in the region’s economy from the onset, enable them to protect their assets, adapt to local market needs, and contribute to local economies through wage and self-employment. Systematic interventions in community infrastructure (places and spaces) should be undertaken to boost social relations and community wellbeing.
Extra support will target the most vulnerable families, linking them to self-reliance activities, access to employment or inclusion in the local social safety network will also enhance their sustainability. It is necessity to establish modular towns near urban centres with an easy access to jobs and services.
In order to redress this situation by ensuring the above mentioned points, we have decided to design a modular town for the displaced people, where they can live comfortably for 2-3 years until they are provided with permanent housing.
The modular infrastructure of the town makes it possible to adjust its size and geometry depending on the number of inhabitants and the expected location. Recommended location — near the existing cities with developed infrastructure for people to socialize and providing them with jobs, as well as hospitals, shops, kindergartens, schools and other important urban infrastructure.
Below is the outline of the project of one of the structural elements of a modular town — the courtyard. The courtyards will make up the streets, and the streets and other infrastructure will form a town.
Such large-scale displacements could have lasting consequences for generations to come. Meanwhile, Russian attacks, using explosive weapons in populated urban areas, continue to inflict civilian casualties and considerable damage to essential infrastructure and services. As a result of bombing and shelling, houses and residential buildings, schools, hospitals, water systems, power plants, and shelters have been severely damaged or destroyed. We often hear from people, crossing the border, saying with tears in their eyes:
“My home was destroyed. There is nothing to return to. We do not know where we are going to go.”
To address this situation, it is necessary to provide the growing number of people forced to flee with the assistance they need to recover from their trauma and start rebuilding their lives:
BASIC NEEDS:
Protection-Sensitive shelter-accommodation support Access to timely, dignified, accessible and safe accommodation is one of the most pressing needs of refugees. Accommodation assistance will be complemented by the provision of household items.
HYGIENE AND SANITARY NEEDS:
All refugees will have access to safe, private and dignified WASH services, to quality water, sanitation, and hygiene services to enhance dignity and prevent waterborne diseases, associated morbidity and mortality.
Continuous availability of water and sanitary facilities — ranging from safe drinking water, handwashing facilities, showers, maintained lavatories and waste management, hygiene and sanitary items, laundry and washing facilities, private and safe bathrooms — will be provided. It is essential to prevent communicable disease outbreaks and mitigate GBV risks.
EDUCATION
Providing education and recreational supplies for children and adolescents and facilitating access to temporary learning, recreational and early childhood development activities, while supporting inclusion in the national education systems.
To ensure the territorial provision of safe education services to refugees – ranging from early childhood development to higher education, formal and informal through proximity to the near urban center. At the same time, the regional authorities will have to take measures to keep up the level of education due to the sudden increase in population.
LIVELIHOOD & INCLUSION
It is vital to facilitate refugees’ inclusion in the region’s economy from the onset, enable them to protect their assets, adapt to local market needs, and contribute to local economies through wage and self-employment. Systematic interventions in community infrastructure (places and spaces) should be undertaken to boost social relations and community wellbeing.
Extra support will target the most vulnerable families, linking them to self-reliance activities, access to employment or inclusion in the local social safety network will also enhance their sustainability. It is necessity to establish modular towns near urban centres with an easy access to jobs and services.
In order to redress this situation by ensuring the above mentioned points, we have decided to design a modular town for the displaced people, where they can live comfortably for 2-3 years until they are provided with permanent housing.
The modular infrastructure of the town makes it possible to adjust its size and geometry depending on the number of inhabitants and the expected location. Recommended location — near the existing cities with developed infrastructure for people to socialize and providing them with jobs, as well as hospitals, shops, kindergartens, schools and other important urban infrastructure.
Below is the outline of the project of one of the structural elements of a modular town — the courtyard. The courtyards will make up the streets, and the streets and other infrastructure will form a town.
