MAS Discusses Temporary Shelter for Persons Displaced by the 2023-24 War on the Gaza Strip: “Needs, Challenges and Alternative Solutions”
Ramallah, Monday, September 30, 2024. The Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) held a roundtable discussion entitled “Temporary Shelter for Persons Displaced by the 2023-24 War in the Gaza Strip: Needs, Challenges and Alternative Solutions”, with the participation of specialists, subject-matter experts and other stakeholders, either in person at MAS headquarters or via Zoom. The background paper was prepared by Engineer Hisham Al-Dirawi, Urban Planning Specialist and former Director of the Department of Urban Planning and Organization at Deir al-Balah Municipality. Additional contributions were made by Engineer Ahed Bseiso, Minister of Public Works and Housing; Mr. Sufian Mushasha,
Policy Advisor at the UNDP; Dr. Yasser Khalidi, Director of Sustainable Development at Amaar Real Estate Group; and Ms. Deborah Joti, Temporary Shelter Specialist at the Norwegian Refugee Council. Their interventions and comments were presented in the discussion paper.
The roundtable was inaugurated by Mr. Raja Khalidi, MAS Director General, who stressed the importance of the topic and the extent to which it complements the Institute’s research priorities, in terms of focusing effort on responding to the consequences of war. In cooperation with numerous Palestinian, Arab and international partners, MAS has produced more than 55 papers, reports, studies and bulletins since the beginning of hostilities, addressing various aspects of the devastating effects of war and its economic and social repercussions. Khalidi emphasized that “the topic of today’s session is urgent and late, as after a year of displacement, there has not yet been any implementation of programs that provide livable, temporary shelter, despite the preparation of numerous governmental and civilian studies and plans on existing alternatives and various engineering, architectural, economic and social priorities related to this topic”. Khalidi thanked the Heinrich Boell Foundation - Palestine and Jordan Office for supporting this - and a number of other – meetings across 2024. MAS will prepare a policy paper after the roundtable session, submitting recommendations to relevant official bodies.
In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Dorthe Siegmund, Director of the Palestine and Jordan Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, highlighted the strong partnership between the two organizations, and her appreciation for the vital contribution made by the MAS series of roundtable sessions. These shed light on sensitive and important issues, as well as economic and social challenges that must be discussed in scientific and professional forums that bring together various stakeholders. She looked forward to continuing this partnership, especially against the background of the difficult the circumstances the Palestinian civil society are experiencing.
Engineer Al-Dirawi outlined that the paper’s objective is to examine methods to provide temporary shelter - in a flexible manner - to a sufficient number of displaced persons in the Gaza Strip (2023-24). The war has caused the displacement of more than 1.9 million citizens, representing about 90% of the total population of the Gaza Strip, according to UN estimates. The paper also examines the most feasible architectural solutions for appropriate temporary shelter. Al-Dirawi indicated that approximately 300,000 housing units were (partially or completely) damaged during the war, necessitating the urgent need to house thousands of families in temporary shelters. This process may take years, therefore temporary shelter must be appropriate from a social and economic viewpoint, providing these families with protection from winter cold and summer heat, while meeting their material needs during this period.
The researcher stated that there are two main types of shelter sites: the first is temporary and easy to install and dismantle, and the second is permanent and stable. The researcher indicated that there are three stages to the lifecycle of shelters: construction, care and maintenance, and closure.
The researcher explained that in the initial stages, the establishment of shelter centers commences with tents. Civil protection areas are established as waiting areas, while sheltered areas receive people, housing them in tents. Rapid installation solutions are required to prepare a shelter for the first night, after which tents are dismantled and shelter centers are established in the form of temporary buildings or emergency housing units, such as containers or prefabricated buildings.
In his turn, the Minister of Public Works and Housing Engineer Ahed Bseiso stated that this issue has become more urgent in light of the huge numbers of citizens who have been forced - by circumstance - to leave their homes in search of safety. He added that providing this type of shelter is a major challenge, as many factors overlap and affect the quality of such solutions. He indicated that there are a set of engineering issues that need to be taken into consideration in order to achieve a balance between the various, functional needs of housing. The Ministry has worked to estimate the extent of damage and losses, based on satellite imagery and data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS). Work has been undertaken in terms of designing a digital platform to catalogue damages to housing units and buildings in the Strip.
Minister Bseiso stated that confronting the challenges associated with internal displacement in the Gaza Strip requires an immediate and multi-dimensional response that includes both immediate and long-term strategies, taking into account the humanitarian and economic needs of citizens. It is also necessary to achieve a balance between urgent needs and sustainable development plans. The immediate response to displacement should not be short-term only but should be part of an integrated strategy aimed at achieving sustainable development.
Mr. Sufyan Mshasha, Policy Advisor at the UNDP, touched upon the need for a high level of coordination by all concerned parties. He pointed out that there are 98 proposed sites currently under examination, to determine the extent to which they meet the needs of the displaced, while preserving human dignity and privacy. He stated that 144 shelter units have been purchased and will arrive this week. He added that, "we have presented a vision for metal-based alternatives, but there may be an objection from Israel”. A further proposal is to manufacture shelters made of fiberglass in the Gaza Strip, and employ local workers.
Dr. Yasser Khalidi, Director of Sustainable Development at Amaar Real Estate Group, noted that the scale of the intended neighborhood is the most important factor when developing temporary housing solutions. Building social connections within these communities is essential to strengthening their resilience. He outlined that a common problem with many temporary housing solutions is the neglect of public and informal spaces. He called for the need to provide multi-purpose areas, and for temporary neighborhoods to accommodate small businesses, educational facilities and healthcare services, while taking into consideration the importance of mental health and recovery from trauma.
Ms. Ms. Deborah Joti, Temporary Shelter Specialist at the Norwegian Refugee Council, called for the need to provide shelter at a reasonable cost and within an appropriate timeframe to meet the needs of the population. She stated that there are restrictions in obtaining construction materials, and that the local market is not functioning properly due to the war. Challenges also exist concerning the presence of unexploded ordnance, which poses a danger to the population, adding that, “we must work on a method to overcome these challenges and re-use recyclable materials such as rubble and others”. Moreover, tents are not a sustainable solution - the displaced must ultimately return to their homes. Joti underscored the need to strengthen the immunity and resilience of the local population, emphasizing the need to raise funds from various donors.
Engineer Samih Al-Abed presented a summary of the efforts of the Palestine Housing Council in formulating proposals and solutions on the issue of temporary and urgent shelter, followed by interventions from participating Gazan experts and in-person attendees at MAS offices. The attendees agreed on the importance of the topic, where many stressed that the scale of destruction in the Strip requires intensifying efforts through a comprehensive national plan, using available materials and local production as much as possible. Coordinating Palestinian and international efforts is required, as well as examining the possibility of returning some residents to their pre-war residential areas, helping them to rehabilitate what can be fixed.
