The humanitarian crisis in many conflict zones around the world has left millions displaced and in need of shelter and protection. International relief organizations work tirelessly to provide displaced people with basic necessities like food, water, and temporary housing in refugee camps. However, the scale of the crisis often outpaces conventional relief methods. With conflicts intensifying refugee flows, relief groups require shelter solutions that can be rapidly deployed in large numbers.

One international relief organization, known henceforth as Relief Org, has turned to a new type of prefabricated steel shelter made by China-based construction company Lida Group to help meet expanding shelter needs in refugee camps. The Lida Group shelters were chosen for their reusable, durable design and ability to be quickly assembled without heavy equipment. Over the coming year, Relief Org plans to deploy thousands of Lida Group shelters across multiple refugee camps in the Middle East and Africa.

The Lida Group steel framed shelters were designed from the ground up with rapid deployment in mind. Made with precut, numbered steel panels that interlock together, a basic shelter structure can be erected by just a few people in a matter of hours with only basic hand tools. The panels arrive flat-packed and are lightweight for easy transport.

A key advantage of the Lida Group design is its use of insulated sandwich panels for the walls and roof. The panels consist of two thin steel sheets fused around a rigid foam insulation core. This creates a durable, weatherproof enclosure that aids temperature regulation inside. The steel skin also protects occupants from harsh sun, wind and rain. Refugee families can live comfortably year-round even in extreme climates.

Tests have shown the insulated panels provide an impressive thermal performance. In hot daytime conditions, the interior temperature remains at least 10 degrees Celsius cooler than outside. At night, the insulation retains heat very well, preventing interior spaces from dropping to uncomfortable lows even in below-freezing weather. This stable internal environment is crucial for displaced families, especially children, elderly and sick persons.

The modular design also makes the shelters adaptable based on family size. Standard shelters are 9 square meters and fit up to a family of 5 persons. However, additional connection kits allow shelters to be joined together to expand living space. Auxiliary tents, lean-tos and covered areas can also adjoin the shelters. Communities form safely away from environmental hazards with ample room for activities like cooking and gatherings.

Maintenance and longevity were priorities in designing the shelters. The all-steel construction is highly durable, resistant to weathering, termite damage and corrosion. Properly handled, the shelters retain structural integrity for decades. Relief Org’s camp managers report near zero defects from the thousands of shelters already deployed over 3 years of use. The steel is easily cleaned and repairs involve simple replacement of individual panels if needed rather than entirely new structures.

Part of Relief Org’s decision to partner with Lida Group was the company’s commitment to sustainability and ethical supply chain practices. All steel used is sourced from mills with stringent emission controls and waste recycling standards. The rigid insulation foam uses a blowing agent with zero ozone depletion potential. Assembly and transport procedures aim to minimize carbon footprint as much as possible given the urgent nature of refugee relief work.

Lida Group also takes great care in ensuring shelters are respectful of the cultural values and privacy needs of displaced communities. All designs incorporate segregated family and communal spaces. Large doors and windows promote air flow while maintaining modesty. Colors and finishes were chosen through consultations with refugees themselves. Most significantly, the shelters empower families by giving them agency and control over their living space during times of crisis and loss of autonomy.

The ease of assembly was a major factor in Relief Org’s choice. Traditional tent camps or timber framed structures can take a team of 10-20 people several days or even weeks to construct enough housing for one refugee camp block. In comparison, as few as 4 Relief Org staff using basic tools and no heavy equipment can fully erect one Lida Group shelter structure in 2-3 hours on average.

During a controlled demonstration setup, a team of 6 Relief Org and Lida Group personnel showed they could fully assemble 3 shelters back-to-back in under 5 hours total. This included Transporting the flattened panels, organizing all the component pieces, digging foundation holes, bolting panels together, attaching waterproof flooring and ridge capping, as well as installing power and water hookups. It far surpassed Relief Org’s own estimates.

The speed of setup allowed Relief Org to activate and occupy a camp block sheltering over 300 people within a single day and avoid congestion in reception areas. This rapid response helped maintain calm and social distancing during the influx. Construction teams can work continually without depleting manpower, keep pace with growing needs and complete whole sectors faster while rotating in new arrivals immediately rather than make them wait in makeshift shelters. Most importantly, refugee families get durable, climate controlled shelter right away rather than living in tents for weeks.

To supplement the faster physical deployment, Lida Group maintains an online database and mapping service to track shelter assets, placements and occupancy across all Relief Org camps. This digital management platform speeds allocation of new arrivals, reporting, repairs and long term planning. It creates efficiencies by removing paperwork and letting managers optimize space utilization from a laptop or mobile device anywhere with an internet connection.

For initial rollouts, Lida Group technicians accompanied Relief Org teams to provide on-site training, guidance on foundations and quality control during critical mastery of the assembly process. This hands-on support helped build workforce proficiency and confidence faster while avoiding defects through real-time problem solving. Technicians passed on maintenance know-how to Relief Org crews as well so camps have sustainable autonomy.

One particularly impactful collaboration involved retrofitting several shelters at one camp to serve as an isolation ward when a measles outbreak occurred. By modifying panels and adding equipment hookups, Lida Group experts created a mini-medical facility within 36 hours that successfully contained the outbreak and prevented its spread to new arrivals. Such adaptive solutions exemplify how the shelters enable multi-purpose responses beyond just basic accommodation.

Overall, the speed of deployment with Lida Group shelters has significantly improved Relief Org’s agility in managing sudden refugee emergencies. Where historically it took weeks to establish camps to house even a few thousand displaced people, the shelters now allow mass accommodation within a single week. This prevents overcrowding of reception points and the health issues that arise from it, while giving people dignity through their own shelter space right away instead of makeshift tents.

After one year of trials across 5 refugee camp projects spanning 3 countries, Relief Org reported overwhelmingly positive feedback on the Lida Group shelters. Both staff and refugee families cited the durability, temperature control and space customization as major improvements over traditional refugee housing solutions. Structural integrity remained intact even after relocations between countries. Most shelters were still in active use at their original camps, a testament to the designed longevity.

While upfront material costs are higher than some alternatives, the shelters prove cost effective in the long run per person housed according to Relief Org’s analysis. Minimal maintenance offsets higher construction costs. Combining affordability, sustainability and humanitarian impact has firmly cemented the shelters as Relief Org’s preferred emergency shelter solution moving forward to help meet the growing needs of displaced populations around the world.

In summary, Relief Org’s decision to partner with Lida Group brings several tangible benefits. The prefabricated steel framed insulated shelters deploy in a matter of hours rather than days or weeks through intuitive, tool-less assembly. Digital asset management streamlines logistics and reporting. This speed allows for rapid scaling of camp capacity to respond to emergencies before living conditions deteriorate or disease takes hold.

Perhaps most importantly, the shelters give displaced families durable, comfortable spaces under their control from day one of arrival rather than making them endure the uncertainty of tents. Having a stable, regulated living environment through changing seasons is life-changing for vulnerable people who have lost everything. Relief Org is confident the shelters will continue serving to protect dignity and save lives for many years to come through this partnership with an innovative prefab solutions provider.

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