Theoretical framework for the research methodology cycle

The aims of this study were influenced by UN provision and research methodology by different research methods related to temporary sheltering in post-earthquake scenarios. Temporary sheltering is an important stage to support the physical, psychological and social needs of survivors in post-earthquake scenarios. As previously mentioned in the Literature Review, some NGOs, such as UNDRO believe that temporary sheltering should respond to low cost units as well as physical and psychological needs (Winandy, 2006).

For responding to these needs, temporary sheltering should have a unique and general approach. Different approaches and methods from international responders on the one hand and variety of situations in different countries with different geographical, climatic, cultural conditions on the other hand, make it more complicated. Therefore, these different situations effect negatively on responding, reconstruction and developments.

Habitat mentions different stages of disaster response as a cycle. In this cycle, all of the activities try to minimise the required time to bring survivors back to a normal life.

Therefore, sheltering in this cycle plays an important role. Local authorities and international NGOs should improve services related to temporary sheltering to maximize welfare for survivors. During the process of reconstruction, temporary shelters are vitally important as they generally provide spaces for working, resting, treatments, relaxing, caring for old and young people, storing and other related activities (Habitat, 1994).

There are different approaches on emergency sheltering. In research from Chalinder (1998), the importance and effects of political, ecological, economic, social and psychological issues in temporary sheltering have been discussed. Generally national action for preparing disaster response cycle in each country leads to more efficiency in temporary sheltering strategies. During preparation emergency NGOs can evaluate the situation better, they can prepare to respond urgently to survivors immediate needs.

In addition, planning a local strategy for temporary sheltering is one important approach for Cuny (Cuny et al., 1983). He explains as below:

“Emergency sheltering and transitional sheltering are not different series of shelter units next to each other for families. It is a big unit for settlement that through time effects on society, security, environment and neighbourhood etc.”

(Cuny et al., 1983:52). (Ref) (find cunny is person or uni)

Furthermore, a temporary shelter is not only a settlement place for families, it can be used for different purposes in post-earthquake scenarios. Temporary sheltering as expanded in previous chapter could be in different formats. Firstly, it can be in the

125 format of camps that consist of emergency shelters and transitional shelters in different locations of the earthquake scenario. Secondly, settlement can be through evacuation of an earthquake area. In some cases public buildings which are in good condition after an earthquake can be used as crisis points for emergency NGOs and survivors (Quarantelli, 1995).

Efficient temporary sheltering in post-earthquake scenarios for the disaster response cycle and reconstruction can strengthen social trends. Cuny believes that NGOs should have specific frameworks for their response to plan their activities in different stages of the disaster response cycle and reconstruction according to different situations (Cuny et al., 1983).

There are different issues that should be responded to in every post-earthquake scenario. These issues are the gaps between emergency sheltering, transitional sheltering, and permanent sheltering. Secondly considering emergency sheltering as a necessary step for temporary sheltering and finally, stability and efficiency of temporary shelters and the role of local authorities/ NGOs in reconstructions.

After an earthquake, the biggest concern for NGOs and local authorities would be to bring normal conditions back within a post-earthquake scenario in minimum time.

According to the Red Cross World Disaster Report in 2001, there is a need for an efficient management that is based on social and scientific research for the disaster response cycle and reconstructions.

2.3.1 Methods of temporary sheltering

The methods of temporary sheltering depends on different conditions in a post-earthquake scenario. Some of these conditions are:

- Scale of earthquake,

- Locations of earthquake including climatic, geographical and historical conditions.

- Conditions of local people including economy age, etc.

- Public skills for disaster prevention practice and their ability

- Level of damages and local methods of construction before earthquakes (Fallahi, 2007)

Selection of efficient and suitable methods for temporary shelter improves the quality of lives in a post-earthquake scenario. There are two approaches for this research; the first approach is public engagement and the second approach is implementation of technology. However, the implementation of technology in some geographical locations for various reasons might not be available. Therefore public engagement for this research counts as a high priority because it is available in every urban and rural area.

126 For UNDRO, the possibilities for temporary sheltering are different types of tents for emergency sheltering and porta-cabins for transitional shelters. Out of all of the different methods of temporary sheltering, tents are the most efficient equipment that emergency services use. Tents have many advantages including being lightweight, of small size, easy to move and erect. However, tents have disadvantages including deformation in short time in comparison with transitional and permanent shelters.

Therefore, it cannot be an efficient option for long term sheltering and protecting the personal belongings of survivors.

Below are situations of displaced people following an earthquake. There are different approaches of temporary sheltering from experts and organizations in world scale such as United Nations, World Bank that are mentioned below.

OCHA³⁶: Emergency sheltering consists of six situations in a post-earthquake scenario. The situations are Host-Families, Urban Settlement, Rural Self-Settlement, Collection Centre, Self-Settled Camps, and Planned Camps.

These six situations of people who are displaced from their permanent shelters is provided below. Movement of survivors after risk reduction in the post-earthquake scenario can be in the long term.

No Group Description

1 Host-Families Settlement in house of family, friends and relatives 2 Urban Self-Settlement Settlement in urban areas through living in public

places with infrastructure

3 Rural Self-Settlement Settlement in rural areas and living in public places with infrastructure

4 Collection Centre Settlement in these public spaces are generally public buildings that are survived from earthquake 5 Self-Settled Camps Survivors live in a camp made by local people 6 Planned Camps Survivors are going to live in predicted camps.

Local authority or NGOs would deliver different services.

Table 1.2: Categorization of displaced people (Keen, 2008)

36 UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

127 Academic experts from Beheshti University (Iran): Dr Fallahi³⁷ categorizes emergency sheltering in three groups. Firstly, providing camps is one of the efficient methods for temporary sheltering in post-earthquake scenarios. In this method at the beginning, they choose an open area close to an earthquake scenario. Then they prepare and equip selected land for temporary sheltering such as levelling the site or preparing car, truck, emergency routes etc. for easy access to camp. According to climate condition, budget, the number of survivors and the scale of the camp could be different.

A second group would be irregular planning. In this type of temporary sheltering survivors would be able to decide where to live for a short time. Experience from the Bam earthquake shows that 70% of survivors had preferred to live close to their collapsed houses.

A third group is a combination of the first and second group, survivors are close to their collapsed permanent houses and they can use indoor and outdoor public spaces to live as a group. (Fallahi, 2008)

World Bank: According to the World Bank’s view in 2010 temporary sheltering must be categorized into two groups. Some of them move to camps and some of them stay close to their collapsed houses because survivors after an earthquake try to make their situation stable. These two situations might be short term or long term. People in an earthquake are affected in the same earthquake scenario but they react differently because their conditions would be different. Some people might start to reconstruct soon while other people might start late. Even it might take months or years. (OCHA, 2008).