Beyond the tent: Considerations for altering the standard refugee camp design for improved health outcomes

Abstract

This paper reviews the current evidence base regarding the use of urban design principles in refugee camps to exploit the built environment for improved health outcomes. A systematic literature review was conducted to gather and analyze existing knowledge given the dearth of refugee camps that currently employ this theoretical framework. This study focuses on associating refugee camp design and organization with three areas of refugee health including resilience, mental health, and physical health. This study then uses a preliminary case study of the Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan to present the expected theoretical findings within the structure of the only nonstandard refugee camp in existence. In total, 34 studies were reviewed and their main findings were presented. The results should be interpreted with caution due to the considerable limitations in the existing evidence base; however, they represent important considerations for overcoming the deficiencies of the current standard refugee camp design.