Publications

Preserving Haitis Ginger Bread houses

Haitis gingerbread houses

A project of the World Monuments Fund the this document outlines the findings of extensive field research on the historic Ginger bread architecture of the region. Of the approximately 300,000 buildings in Haiti that were damaged during the January 2010 earthquake, the country’s historic gingerbread houses endured the disaster relatively well. In fact, researchers estimate than only 5 percent of these beloved buildings partially or fully collapsed.

This project, and WMF’s contributions to it, were made possible through the coordinated efforts of several institutions, including:

Fondation Connaissance et Liberté (FOKAL)
Prince Claus Fund (PCF)
L’ Institut de Sauvegarde du Patrimoine National (ISPAN) International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
Haitian Education and Leadership Program (HELP)
Pictometry International Corporation and the GIS Corps
of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA)

Assessment of the Rohingya Refugee Emergency Shelter Efforts

 

 

In order to truly understand the impact of any development project, one must look deeper than the structures themselves. In compiling this report, there were been glimpses into the challenges of the organizations and individuals who helped this project come into being, from the aid groups to the community members they serve. 

This document attempts to study multiple perspectives on the process of the formation of the initial settlement now known as Kutapalong Refugee Camp. It includes in-depth structural analysis and key informant contributions. 

The Project was commissioned by Alight (FKA American Refugee Committee)  

Bamboo Documents related to Kutapalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh

 

At the request of IOM Hyphae has produced this document to provide guidance on water analysis, water treatment, process development and process optimization for the IOM bamboo treatment facility. Water analysis methods for testing orthoborate concentrations and leached organics concentrations are presented that are suitable for facilities with limited resources. The results of testing multiple water treatment methods including coagulation, oxidation, and adsorption are also presented. In summary, the oxidation and adsorption methods seem most likely to yield economical processes at scale, but more testing and techno-economic modeling is necessary in order to make a final determination of the best approach.

This document is the standard operational procedure document for IOM’s Bamboo Treatment Facility located in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. It is based on the processes established through two years of planning,

Over 24 million culms of bamboo were used during the emergency phase of the Rohingya refugee crisis response in Cox’s Bazar. The urgent necessity of bamboo as main structural material in the camps led to a rapid deterioration which quickly became visible as the monsoon season approached. This deterioration was due the attack on the bamboo by termites, boring beetles, and fungal rot caused by construction methods which placed the bamboo into direct contact with the ground.In 2018 field assessments were performed independently by ARUP, Humanitarian Bamboo, and The Natural Builders in support of the sector and implementing agencies. During inspections extensive pest damage and fungal rot were observed throughout the camps.As the crisis continued the need for a durable building material for construction became crucial. As most of the camp lies in Government of Bangladesh Forest Preserve, the land is protected, and construction of permanent structures is strictly limited. This limitation led the shelter cluster to look for alternative construction solutions in order to facilitate both transitional and long-term construction programming.

 

Due to the prolonged nature of displacement, shelter durability within the camps is a major concern among refugees and international aid organizations. Of key concern is the strength of the organizations’ primary building material – bamboo. With current climate and camp conditions, the estimated average lifespan of untreated bamboo used for shelter is 0 to 20 months, with maintenance and repairs necessary to prepare for monsoon and cyclone seasons. This limited lifespan is especially concerning, as the crisis is now in its 25th month.

Over 24 million sticks of bamboo have been used by humanitarian agencies during the Rohingya Response in Cox’s Bazar. The demands of an urgent humanitarian crisis at the peak of response and monsoon preparedness initiatives led to poor usage of bamboo with low quality and durability. Exacerbating this, structures have been constructed using untreated bamboo and poles in direct contact with the ground, creating perfect conditions for pests and rot. Extensive pest damage can already be seen throughout the camps, particularly in poles harvested while still immature or during the monsoon season (which are particularly attractive to pests).

While the total national supply of bamboo can be managed over time, demand constantly remains high and solutions to both decrease bamboo deforestation and improve shelter conditions for Rohingya individuals are paramount to the sustainability of the interventions and total response.

 

 

Right: A 4 page overview of the IOM Bamboo Treatment Facility                                                   

 

 

Left: A Report Published By Arup Engineers relevant to the development of the IOM Bamboo Treatment Facility and Published with permission of IOM to support the context of the other documents.