UN refugee camp waste management
The issue of waste management in UN refugee camps is a pressing concern due to the unsanitary conditions that contribute to the humanitarian crisis in areas like Gaza. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) have joined forces to support the Joint Service Council for solid waste management and are deploying workers to oversee waste collection operations. This initiative aims to alleviate the suffering caused by the accumulation of solid waste in overcrowded and unsanitary shelters and tent communities, which has become an urgent need in places like Gaza. Furthermore, the situation in Gaza highlights the dire living conditions in refugee shelters, where the only way to get rid of garbage is often by burning it. This practice contributes to the spread of diseases and worsens the already challenging situation faced by the refugees. In response to the Syrian refugee crisis, innovative approaches to waste management have been implemented in the Zaatari refugee camp. This camp, being the largest Syrian refugee camp in the world, has seen the introduction of circular waste management strategies. These strategies involve the sorting and recycling of waste through a Material Recovery Facility (MRF), with the aim of turning waste into compost, energy, and job creation. This approach not only addresses the waste management problem but also contributes to improving the quality of life in the camp by reducing waste management costs and generating valuable resources such as biogas, electricity, and compost. These efforts demonstrate the UN’s commitment to addressing the challenges of waste management in refugee camps and finding sustainable solutions that can improve living conditions and create economic opportunities for the affected populations.Incineration should only be used as a last option. However, in reality informal burning of waste is often endemic in many parts of the world. Effective incineration requires sufficient dry combustible refuse which even in tropical climate can be difficult to achieve. Thus effective incineration often relies upon the use of expensive fuels, which makes this option inappropriate. Incineration should only be considered when the following conditions have been fulfilled: • All plastic products are removed before incineration • Incineration takes place downwind of dwellings Contact us on www.hiclover.com WhatsApp +86-13813931455