Since 2010, extreme flooding in southern Pakistan has affected 35 million people, damaging or destroying 2.5 million homes. In response, aid organisations have built 200,000 shelters for the very poorest households, and many other people have built their own.
To evaluate shelter design, we carried out 800 field surveys, conducted desk studies and tested 24 full-scale wall panels. Our study focussed on flood resilience and structural performance, cost, building comfort, carbon footprint and environmental impact. For the first time our research for the International Organization for Migration Pakistan and the UK Department for International Development provides evidence on how designs will perform in future flooding.
Using the findings of the research we created a Shelter Guide with best practice designs and a decision making tool. It empowers donors, shelter agencies and the communities they serve to construct sustainable flood resilient shelter.
