Environmental Review, Burundi E-mail

Environmental review of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) activities in Burundi

Project dates: October 2008 - ongoing

Camps are often the first safe haven for refugees and internally displaced persons seeking shelter, assistance and safety. They do not, however, provide any durable solutions and can be calamitous in the long run. If managed properly though, in the short-term camps can serve major protection functions for people displaced by armed conflict or natural disasters.

Focus Group Discussion taking place in Gihinga refugee camp, where discussions focused heavily on the amount of fuelwood being consumed by households. C. Taylor/ProAct Network

Common environmental problems associated with many camps - and those in Burundi are no exception - relate to the layout of camps, the availability of construction materials and fuel for cooking and heating, and the disposal of waste. To address these issues, the Camp Management Agency, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Burundi has highlighted the need for improved protection of the environment in the implementation of its activities. In this respect, NRC has requested assistance from ProAct through a review of certain aspects of its programme.

The findings of this project will serve as an example to NRC offices and programmes worldwide and will contribute to the development of NRC environmental policies. They will also be presented during the Shelter Center Meeting in Brussels in November 2008.

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