The intencity of the three weeks in Dili are starting to release the pressure from my shoulders. It has been nearly one week since we left Timor, and it is time to dig into the data material collected. The following weeks will be intense, as deadine is getting closer. Looking back, what is the essence of our findings?
Before leaving for East Timor we had this idea to study refugee camps and eventually, in my case, come up with a design wich can improve the security in the camp. We were soon to discover that all the tented camps in Timor are closed. They had for a long time been replaced by a number of transitional camps with another structure and living conditions than tented refugee camps. As the transitional camps are more similar to what can be descibed as "normal" settlements, I soon found them very interesting as study objects. It turned out that camp like these are not exclusevely for Timor, but similar projects are found in other countries. In addition, they are planned by NRC, so drawings and background materials are easily accessible. A comparison study of three of these camps will therefore form a part of the case study. What are the physical differences? Do these differences effect the level of securtity in the camp?
Further, we have done 27 interviews, several of these with former residents in the camps. It is clear that they have very different views on the security situation, yet they seem to share a common understanding that widows and single head of households are more vulnarable than others. In addition, domestic violence is a huge problem, not only in the camps, but in the society in general.
The residents themselves seem to explain this as a private problem, caused by frustration due to lack of work and low activity level. There has been several programs in the camps that focus on this in particular, and the establishment of kitchen gardens seem to be one of the more successful projects. This activity has given the women (in particular) a chance to earn money, a social arena and new skills.
The men are activated occationally, whenever there are work to be done. There are little or no sports and spare time activities avaliable. Several expresses a wish to be activated more often, and state that they would participate if such aminities were to be offered in the camps. They even claim that this might release some of the tention that often leads to internal conflicts and domestic violence.
These statments encourage my work, as my theory is that the physical environment can affects ones behaviour, and at the same time reduse the possibilites of criminal actions. I realize, of course, that in such a complex context a great variety of sollutions are required. Yet, I am gaining confident that physical design must be considered when planning the security in camps.
Before leaving for East Timor we had this idea to study refugee camps and eventually, in my case, come up with a design wich can improve the security in the camp. We were soon to discover that all the tented camps in Timor are closed. They had for a long time been replaced by a number of transitional camps with another structure and living conditions than tented refugee camps. As the transitional camps are more similar to what can be descibed as "normal" settlements, I soon found them very interesting as study objects. It turned out that camp like these are not exclusevely for Timor, but similar projects are found in other countries. In addition, they are planned by NRC, so drawings and background materials are easily accessible. A comparison study of three of these camps will therefore form a part of the case study. What are the physical differences? Do these differences effect the level of securtity in the camp?
Further, we have done 27 interviews, several of these with former residents in the camps. It is clear that they have very different views on the security situation, yet they seem to share a common understanding that widows and single head of households are more vulnarable than others. In addition, domestic violence is a huge problem, not only in the camps, but in the society in general.
The residents themselves seem to explain this as a private problem, caused by frustration due to lack of work and low activity level. There has been several programs in the camps that focus on this in particular, and the establishment of kitchen gardens seem to be one of the more successful projects. This activity has given the women (in particular) a chance to earn money, a social arena and new skills.
The men are activated occationally, whenever there are work to be done. There are little or no sports and spare time activities avaliable. Several expresses a wish to be activated more often, and state that they would participate if such aminities were to be offered in the camps. They even claim that this might release some of the tention that often leads to internal conflicts and domestic violence.
These statments encourage my work, as my theory is that the physical environment can affects ones behaviour, and at the same time reduse the possibilites of criminal actions. I realize, of course, that in such a complex context a great variety of sollutions are required. Yet, I am gaining confident that physical design must be considered when planning the security in camps.
Innlegg
