It is a known fact that are now millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP). These peope range from victims of natural and man-made calamities. This is different from the current refugee crisis in Europe which is an example of Displaced Persons (IDs).
Contemporary history.
It has been conventional wisdom that evacuation centers and refugee camps are mere temporary in nature, that these are just passing circumstances and no need for careful planning, development and implementation.
It is not realized that Palestinian refugee camps have been existence since 1948. The most recent example is the more than 10 years old camp where victims of the tsunami in 2004 still reside.
It is no longer tenable to just build the homes of disaster victims where they once stood because the tragedy has proven that these are hazard areas and a safer and more sustainable community must be built from scratch.
Philippine Experience
The Philippines is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. The hazards based on the number of typhoons that visits it annually (20+) which is the cause of floods and landslides. The Philippines is also along the Pacific Rim of Fire wherein seismic activity is regular and devastating along volcanic activity if present. Both these disasters are unpredictable in nature.
Current Systems
The system now is still haphazard and prone to giving birth to more problems as long as it continues. The system is that victims of disasters and calamities are evacuated to public schools and covered courts. This brings along problems such as over crowding, poor toilet facilities, spread of diseases and even social friction.
A better thought out system must be institutionalized since the occurrences of disasters and calamities are an annual event in the country.
Camp Management System
A Camp Management System CMS is now mandatory after what happened during Typhoon Yolanda. In that case, the evacuation centers such as schools and barangay multi-purpose halls were also included in hazard areas, particularly areas where the storm surge had its most devastating effect.
An evacuation camp must be located in areas that are not included in the hazard areas as depicted in Hazard Maps distributed by the government. The main reason for a well thought out evacuation camp is the continuance of civilization and Peace and Order in the absence of disaster response from the government.
Features:
1. 4x4 sqm area allotment for each refugee or evacuee
2. Secure perimeter
3. Area for latrines, storage facilities, rudimentary administration areas, food storage areas, vehicle areas, animal containment areas, areas for those who are sick, areas for the elderly and infants, cooking areas.
To be continued
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