Thursday 20 October
Oxfam innovates to tackle shelter crisis in earthquake zone
Oxfam International is having to innovate to fill the gaps in shelter provision for the hundreds of thousands of people
left homeless by the recent Asian earthquake. The current lack of thermal tents combined with the massive logistical
challenges in getting aid to the most inaccessible areas is putting thousands of victims of the quake in danger.
"The lack of easily available tents means we're having to think of new ways of doing things and fast. We've already
taken over a tent factory in Pakistan but we're also looking for other solutions. In India we've just designed and built
a shelter that ordinary people can put together from locally available materials. These temporary shelters could house
thousands and be the difference between life and death," said Ashok Prasad, an Oxfam aid worker.
The temporary shelters have been five years in development. They have been tested in cold storage warehouses and in
wind tunnels:
They cost around NZ$200 per unit.
Sleep a family of 6 people.
Use only locally available materials – plastic sheeting, ordinary plastic piping, felt insulation, rope. (Oxfam has
checked and all of these are available on the local markets.)
The tunnel shaped design maximises internal living space, especially important for the winter when long periods will be
spent inside the tent.
Well insulated. They retain heat better than tents with their felt lining and layers designed to trap air. They are
easy and quick to construct and require no tools to put together
"What makes these shelters so good is that they are easy to assemble, low in cost, the materials can be bought locally
and most of all they are warm.
“We've already shared these designs with local people, other aid agencies and local officials and the response has been
universally positive. The shelter challenge is massive and we're going to have to continue to innovate to overcome all
the challenges," added Prasad.
Oxfam New Zealand have been pleased with the New Zealand response to their appeal - but more is needed to meet the
desperate need as winter sets in. The public can donate to the appeal now on the website www.oxfam.org.nz or by phone
during work hours on toll-free 0800 400 666.
ENDS