Assessing Disaster Risk Reduction in Refugee Camp Design: The Case of Jordan

Master’s Dissertation

08 June 2020

Assessing Disaster Risk Reduction in Refugee Camp Design The Case of Al-Wehdat and Azraq Refugee Camps in Jordan MUNDUS URBANO PROGRAMME 2018/2020 Abdel Rahman Al-Zoubi | Supervised by Carmen Mendoza

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Table of contents Introduction Research Methodology Conceptual Framework Case Studies Conclusion 2

Introduction

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Introduction | statement Jordan is considered one of the most refugee-welcoming countries, as today it hosts around three million refugees and asylum seekers, since 1948.

10 Palastinian official camps since 1952

Figure 1: Population of refugees in Jordan Figure 2, 3: Palestinian & Syrian camps in Jordan Author, 2020. Based on sources

3 Syrian official camps since 2012

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Introduction | background

Figure 4: Scenarios of accommodating refugees Author, 2020.

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Introduction | research problem

Figure 5: Research problem & argument Author, 2020.

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Introduction | research questions

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Are disaster risk strategies complying to camp design?

To what extent DRR is applied to existing camps, especially informal camps, and how can it be implemented?

To what extent camp design manuals and DRR frameworks include context-based knowledge?

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Introduction | objectives

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Analyse the existing DRR frameworks, and what parameters of DRR are applied to camp design Examine the existing national emergency plan in Jordan, and to what extent it includes DRR for camps-

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Methodology

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Methodology

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Conceptual Framework 11

Conceptual Framework | disaster risk ‘-reduction’

Figure 6: Risk formula Author, 2020. Based on sources

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Conceptual Framework | drr frameworks

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Conceptual Framework | drr in camp design

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Conceptual Framework | main findings • The DRR frameworks provide the national management with guidelines on DRR, which look at the city as one urban fabric (homogenous), whereas neglecting the different characteristics within this fabric.

• The humanitarian agencies were aware about introducing DRR/DRM into their policies and field operations, specifically, the emergency (short-term) camps, still no debate about informal (protracted) camp settlements.

• The camp design are based on generic (universal) standards, not extrapolated from a holistic understanding of specific disaster risk(s), region, community (i.e., not context-based knowledge).

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Case Studies

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Case Studies | overview

Figure 7, 8: Amman New Camp and Azraq Camp, respectively Author, 2020. Based on sources

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Case Studies | analysis

Figure 9-13: Case studies analysis Author, 2020. Based on sources

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Case Studies | discussion of analysis Amman New Camp (Al-Wehdat) - Informal Camp Settlement • Shelter: The surface area is less than 20 m2 per person; Housing units were poorly engineered, and stacked together along the camp; • Accessibility and Mobility: The quality of streets are poorly conditioned; Street vendors occupying most of the main streets; People with disabilities are not represented through camp design scope; • Open Spaces and Fire Safety: The lack of open spaces; Building materials; 19

Case Studies | discussion of analysis Azraq Camp - Emergency Planned Camp • Shelter: The surface area per person (30 m2 per person); All shelters are constructed in similar structure and layout; • Accessibility and Mobility: The clear grid of roads network; The distance from the urban centres can negatively affect the integration of the refugee community; • Open Spaces and Fire Safety: Spaces between shelters; Providing fire breaks as open spaces; But neglecting the understanding of the nature of the camp as its hot arid desert;

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Case Studies | closure statement

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The analysis demonstrates how the seven-decade-evolution produced an informal settlements within the urban fabric without considering DRR approach. Thus, the case of Al-Wehdat (as informal camp settlement) does not comply with DRR strategies.

The analysis shows that Azraq camp (as an emergency planned camp) relatively complies with DRR strategies but neglects some key aspects at the same time.

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Conclusion

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Conclusions | part one • Applying the DRR Frameworks into in-depth cases such as informal camp settlements fails to acknowledge the complexity of the informality within the urban structure.

• The discussion among humanitarian guidelines (agencies) revolves around the preparedness of emergency camps (short-term); the gap of achieving DRR inside informal camp settlements not addressed.

• DRR strategies in camp design, must take into consideration the expectation of population growth inside camps and the ability to expand the capacity of social, environmental, and physical infrastructures.

• Adapt a holistic approach towards synchronised-development model (a whole city concept), which coordination and integration can be achieved.

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Conclusions | part two • The protracted situation of Amman New Camp (Al-Wehdat) led to cumulative inadequacy in the camp infrastructure and buildings’ features; Therefore, small scale DRR initiatives can be established such as placemaking projects, establish early warning systems and communication channels with NCSCM, and develop a periodic assessment and maintenance criteria that apply DRR parameters.

• Taking into consideration the environment of Azraq Camp and its location; introducing sustainable methods for accessing resources, such as develop the use of solar energy for household activities and create a context-based adaptative environment to reduce the effects of climate.

• The call to action for making DRR strategies part of early-stage camp design manuals that are associated with the knowledge of context-based disasters, and to include DRR strategies in urban upgrading plans of informal settlements.

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THANKS DANKE GRACIAS Ù‹

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References •

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2016). United Nations Development Programme in Jordan Brochure. https://www.jo.undp.org/content/jordan/en/home/library/ UNDP_Jordan_Brochure.html

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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (2020). UNHCR Jordan Operational Report (May 2020) (Issue May).

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United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). (2018). PROTECTION IN JORDAN. https://www.unrwa.org/activity/protection-jordan

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Prevention Web. 2015. Disaster Risk. Retrieved from https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/disaster-risk

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United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). (2014). Annual Report: Final Report on 2012-2013 Biennium Work Programme. https://www.undrr.org/publication/unisdr-annualreport-2013

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Twigg, J. (2015). Disaster Risk Reduction (GPR 9). Overseas Development Institute, London. https:// goodpracticereview.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/GPR-9- web-string-1.pdf

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The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General. (2016). Report of the open-ended intergovernmental expert working group on indicators and terminology relating to disaster risk reduction: Vol. A/71/644 (Issue Sustainable development: disaster risk reduction). https://reliefweb.int/report/world/report- open-ended- intergovernmental-expert-working-group-indicators-and-terminology

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Tozier de la Poterie, A., & Baudoin, M.-A. (2015). From Yokohama to Sendai: Approaches to Participation in International Disaster Risk Reduction Frameworks. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 6, 128–139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-015-0053-6

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Chatelard, G. (2010). Jordan: A Refugee Haven. Migration Information Source, 11. https:// www.migrationpolicy.org/article/jordan-refugee-haven/

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Potter, R. B., Darmame, K., Barham, N., & Nortcliff, S. (2007). An Introduction to the Urban Geography of Amman, Jordan. 182, 30. http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/ geographyandenvironmentalscience/GP182_Amman_RBP_9Aug07.pdf

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Al-Husseini, J. 2011. The Evolution of the Palestinian Refugee Camps in Jordan. Between Logics of Exclusion and Integration. Villes, pratiques urbaines et construction nationale en Jordanie.

P.181-204. Beyrouth: Presses de l’Ifpo. doi:10.4000/ books.ifpo.1742. Retrieved from https://books.openedition.org/ifpo/1742

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Sheldon, Z. 2018. Nationality, Class, and Iraqi Migrants in Jordan. Retrieved from https://www.acorjordan.org/2018/01/02/nationality-class-iraqi-migrants-jordan/

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Google Earth aerial images, 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.google.com/earth/

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List of Figures • Figure 1

Population of refugees in Jordan (4). Produced by the author, 2020. Based on sources

• Figure 2

Palestinian camps in Jordan (4). Produced by the author, 2020. Based on sources

• Figure 3

Syrian camps in Jordan (4). Produced by the author, 2020. Based on sources

• Figure 4

Scenarios of accommodating refugees (5). Produced by the author, 2020

• Figure 5

Research problem (6). Produced by the author, 2020

• Figure 6

Risk definition (13). Produced by the author, 2020. Based on sources

• Figure 7

Amman New Camp (19). Produced by the author, 2020. Based on sources

• Figure 8

Azraq Camp (19). Produced by the author, 2020. Based on sources

• Figure 9-13

Case analysis, camp morphology (20). Produced by the author, 2020. Based on sources

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