For a better transition in post-disaster response: A case study of temporary shelter in Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar in 2015

<p>Hlawn Tin Cuai</p>

For a better transition in post-disaster response: A case study of temporary shelter in Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar in 2015

Hlawn Tin Cuai

Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

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Abstract

Natural disasters have been faced unexpectedly all over the world even the places where historically have not experienced any event of disaster. In the aftermath of disaster, people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed will have to stay in emergency tents and moved to a proper shelter while waiting for relocating to safer place. Shelter is a basic human need and staying in temporary shelters should support the affected people to have a private and secure place to return to their normal life. Although the provision of the shelters is widely accepted as a crucial part of post-disaster response and recovery, there are many problems related with the design of the shelter which should be the transitional places where psychologically and physically secure to recover from the trauma of disaster. When Cyclone Komen hit Hakha in July 2015, 7000 people were affected by the landslide, the affected people stayed in emergency relief tents and public buildings such as church, sport hall and school. The affected people lived three months to nine months in emergency stage and moved to temporary shelters, stay ranging almost 10 months. But the temporary tents in Hakha did not have physically adequate space and psychologically lack of privacy. The main objective of the paper is to analyze the design of temporary shelter for a better transition in post-disaster response considering local geographic, climate, and sociocultural parameter by using disaster relief shelter camps in Hakha as a case study.