Innovative flat pack refugee shelters designed to improve living conditions for people living in temporary structures around the world are currently being put into use in Iraq and Ethiopia
The new shelters, made from poles and panels, are easier to ship, easier to assemble and easier to live in than conventional shelters.
Designed by Swedish furniture manufacturer IKEA and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the new shelters last up to three years, unlike canvas equivalents, which last around six months.
Additionally, a solar panel on the roof provides light and energy for necessities, while a shade net reflects heat in the summer and insulates in the winter.
Head of Innovations at UNHCR, Olivier Pierre Delarue, said the partnership is shedding new light on an ongoing issue: “Thanks to the IKEA Foundation, UNHCR is bringing an innovative approach to an old problem.”
