War – Syria

Climate: Hot and dry, with cold winters.

When their town was bombed during the war, Fatima’s family fled to a refugee camp. With no time to carry anything, they relied on the camp’s resources to build a small shelter from plastic sheets and wooden poles. To make it feel more like home, Fatima hung a colorful scarf inside and spread out rugs on the dirt floor. It wasn’t much, but it was safer than staying behind.

• Time to Build: 1–2 days (basic plastic sheet and pole shelters).
• Cost: Cheap ($) – Relief organizations supply most materials, reducing individual costs.
• Local Materials: No – Plastic sheets and poles are manufactured and transported to camps.

• Would you prefer to build a shelter alone or with others? Why?
  (What are the advantages of teamwork?)
• What would you do to make your shelter more comfortable if you had more time?
  (Would you add insulation, decorate it, or make it bigger?)