REFUGEE TRANSIT CENTRE

(A PROTOTYPE MODEL)

B. Arch Thesis Report submitted in

partial fulfillment for the award of the Degree of
Bachelor of Architecture

by
Harsh Raj
Reg. No. – 1602295091

Under the guidance of

Ar. Anshuman Mishra

PILOO MODY COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

ABIT GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS
2021
1
 DECLARATION BY STUDENT

I hereby declare that:

a. The work contained in this report has been done by me under the
guidance of my Guide.
b. The work has not been submitted to any other Institute for any degree or
diploma.
c. I have conformed to the norms and guidelines given in the Ethical Code
of Conduct of the Institute.
d. Whenever I have used materials (data, theoretical analysis, figures, and
text) from other sources, I have given due credit to them by citing them
in the text of the thesis and giving their details in the references. Further,
I have taken permission from the copyright owners of the sources,
whenever necessary.

Date: Signature of the Student

2
 PILOO MODY COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
ABIT GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS, CUTTACK

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project report titled “Refugee Transit Centre –
A prototype model”, submitted by Harsh Raj to the
Piloo Mody College of Architecture, ABIT Group of Institutions, Cuttack;
is a record of bonafide project work carried out by her/him under my
guidance.

Ar. Name of the Guide

Ar. Anshuman Mishra EXTERNAL EXAMINER – I

Ar. Dharitri Das

PRINCIPAL, PMCA EXTERNAL EXAMINER – II

3
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all those who have helped me
complete my thesis.

To start with, I am greatly thankful to our thesis co-coordinator Ar. Shankar Giri,
and especially to my guide Ar. Anshuman Mishra, whose encouragement,
guidance and support from the initial to the final level enabled me to develop
on understanding and producing it to the best. Thanks for helping me to
broaden my view and knowledge.

I am forever grateful to my family whose blessing, love and support has brought
me this far.

I thank my beloved friends for their constant support and love towards me
throughout my hard time and bringing in me the encouragement to fight
through it.

Lastly a collective regards and blessing to all those who have supported me in
carrying out all the aspect of this thesis project.

Signature of the Student

Date:

4
 ABSTRACT
In recent years the number of displaced persons has increased worldwide and
the victims of displacement, mainly due to persecution, have been arriving in
India too. This study and the proposal focuses on facilitating the lives of
minorities arriving in India from the neighboring three nation, namely Pakistan,
Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

India has welcomed several refugee groups from different countries in the past
and with the newly passed Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 it has again
opened its door for the so called Indian origin minority groups who are being
persecuted in the neighboring 3 nations. Though these groups have been
arriving since years, the data’s now show that the new bill has further increased
the influx. Because of improper assistance, on arrival, the persecuted ones
generally un-educated, un-skilled and in un-healthy conditions, end up in slums
and gradually become a burden on the second most populated country of
the world.

As architecture always took a role in humanitarian situations, the intention of

the project is to provide a temporary shelter in form of a Transit Centre to cater
for the needs of the traumatized ones initially on their arrival, to help them
restart a new life in a new country and become familiar with the new
community. The centre will promote the importance of recovery, rest,
acceptance, education & celebration of independence by architectural
intervention.

With certain limitations and assumptions, the project is hypothetical in nature

and can be used as a prototype model to build such facilities in India.
According to the research work performed for this project, Sonipat in the Indian
state of Haryana is found to be one of the ideal location for the Centre. The
project could possibly be a new step to be taken by the authorities In India to
further support the newly passed CAA. Though the new Act is seen as a political
agenda, the construction of such a Centre in India would surely improve the
lives of certain people who wish to have a safe and more comfortable life in
India. My approach to this research and design is meant to be one alternative
to be tested, rather than a single solution to the complex question raised.

5
 CONTENTS
Title Page 1
Declaration by Student 2
Certificate 3
Acknowledgement 4
Abstract 5

Chapter 1 Introduction 10
1.1 Displacement
1.2 Refugees
1.3 Refugees in India
1.3.1 Religious Refugees
1.3.1.1 Afghanistan
1.3.1.2 Bangladesh
1.3.1.3 Pakistan
1.3.1.4 Tibet

1.3.2 Refugees facing ethnic persecution

1.3.2.1 Ugandans of Indian-origin expelled in 1972
1.3.2.2 Sri- Lankan Tamils
1.3.3 Citizenship
1.3.4 Legal refugees

1.4 Need of the project

1.5 Synopsis
1.5.1 Aim of the project
1.5.2 Objective
1.5.3 Scope of the project
1.5.4 Limitations of the project
1.5.5 Scale of the project
1.5.6 Target group of the project
1.5.7 Design methodology
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Chapter 2 Data Collection and Analysis 19
2.1 Literature study
2.1.1 Introduction
2.1.2 Arrival in India
2.1.3 Major problems on arrival
2.1.4 Humanitarian aid

2.1.4.1 Water Supply, Sanitation, & Hygiene Promotion

2.1.4.2 Food Security & Nutrition
2.1.4.3 Shelter and settlement
2.1.4.4 Health
2.1.5 UNHCR’s standards
2.1.6 Space standards
2.1.7 Sustainable approach
2.1.8 Low cost approach
2.1.9 Barrier free approach
2.1.10 Skill development programmes

2.2 Case study

2.2.1 Case 1 – CEO Reception centre, Netherlands
2.2.1.1 Introduction
2.2.1.2 Facilities
2.2.1.3 Observations
2.2.1.4 Inferences
2.2.2 Case 2 – Bhasan Char Refugee camp, Bangladesh
2.2.2.1 Introduction
2.2.2.2 Development
2.2.2.3 Facilities
2.2.2.4 Observations
2.2.2.5 Inferences

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Chapter 3 Site Study 36
3.1 Site location
3.2 Criteria for site selection
3.2.1 Why Sonipat?
3.2.2 Why this site?
3.3 About the Site
3.4 Climate analysis
3.5 SWOT analysis
3.5.1 Strengths
3.5.2 Weaknesses
3.5.3 Opportunities
3.5.4 Threats

Chapter 4 Preliminary Outcomes of the Proposal 41

4.1 Introduction
4.2 Design program
4.2.1 Built-up outcomes from activities
4.2.1.1 Accommodation
4.2.1.2 Health centre
4.2.1.3 School
4.2.1.4 Mess
4.2.1.5 Training centre
4.2.1.6 Administrative block
4.2.1.7 Pavilion
4.2.2 Area analysis
4.3 Design process
4.4 Design elements
4.5 Site zoning
4.6 Form development

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Chapter 5 Design Development and Final Outcome 45
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Design Development
5.2.1 Site Plan
5.2.2 Services and Networks
5.2.3 Accommodation
5.2.4 Facilities
5.2.5 Pavilion
5.2.6 Temporary Structures
5.2.7 Security

List of References / Bibliography 49

Appendix – Sheets 50

9
 Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Displacement

The world is witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. More than
1% of the people on Earth were forcibly displaced by the end of 2019, a new
UNHCR report shows, and displacement numbers are increasing over time.
Wars, violence or persecution forced 11 million people to flee their homes
throughout the year, mostly from low- or middle-income countries, creating a
total displaced global population of almost 80 million. An estimated 30-34
million of these were below the age of 18. There are also millions of stateless
people, who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights.

Forced or involuntary migration – sometimes referred to as forced or

involuntary displacement – a distinction is made between conflict induced
and disaster induced displacement. Displacement induced by conflict is
typically referred to as caused by humans, whereas natural causes typically
underlay displacement caused by disasters. The UNHCR defines 'forced
displacement' as follows: displaced "as a result of persecution, conflict,
generalized violence or human rights violations". Forced displacement is not
only a development challenge, but also a humanitarian concern.

Figure 1

1.2 Refugees

A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country
because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear
of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or
membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home
or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are
leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.

The hardships they endured through their displacement have made these
people vulnerable. They have lost assets and livelihoods, and they are unable
to plan their future. Many suffer from trauma, and women and girls are at high
risk of gender-based violence.
10
The forcibly displaced often live in poor conditions in developing countries that
are struggling to meet their own development goals. Accommodating the
newcomers presents a challenge for host governments, putting further pressure
on their ability to deliver basic services and infrastructure. This is why forced
displacement is not only a humanitarian crisis, it is a development challenge
as well.

1.3 Refugees in India

India, do not have a national, regional or international policy for the protection
of refugees. It has also not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines
the term ‘refugee’ & states that a refugee should not be returned to a country
where he/she faces serious threats to life.

However, it continues to grant asylum to a large number of refugees from

neighbouring States on humanitarian grounds and also respects UNHCR’s
mandate for other nationals or holders of UNHCR documentation. The
Constitution of India protects them by affording them the fundamental rights
to equality, to life and liberty and to practice one’s own religion.

Under Indian law, multiple groups are generally accepted as legal refugees.
These include Sri Lankan Tamils, Indians who were affected by the 1972
expulsion of Ugandans of Indian origin, and Indic-origin religious minorities. As
the birthplace of many religions, most prominently Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism,
and Jainism, India accepts followers of Indic-origin religions who are
persecuted in their home states as refugees, most notably victims of
the Partition of India and the 1971 Bangladesh genocide. Most legal
refugees are Indic-religion minorities who fled prosecution from other countries
after the India gained its independence in 1947. Illegal immigrants to India are
not included in this definition. Existing legal Indian citizens who come from pre-
independence migration to India are also not included under this definition.

Foreigners who enter or stay in India without a valid visa are officially
designated as illegal immigrants; they can be arrested and deported. As India
is not a State Party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, nor
has it enacted national legislation to deal comprehensively with refugees, it
deals with refugees largely at political and administrative levels, and has only
ad hoc systems in place to deal with their status and needs. The legal status of
refugees is, therefore, no different from those of ordinary aliens whose
presence is regulated by the Foreigners Act of 1946.

Figure 2

11
 1.3.1 Religious Refugees

1.3.1.1 Afghanistan
Currently, there are around 8,000 to 11,684 Afghan refugees in India, most of
whom are Hindus and Sikhs. The Indian government has allowed the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in India to operate a
program for them. In 2015, the Indian government granted citizenship to 4,300
Hindu and Sikh refugees of whom most were from Afghanistan.

1.3.1.2 Bangladesh
Many people from East Bengal, mainly Hindus, migrated to West Bengal during
the partition in 1947. From 1947 to 1961, the percentage of the population of
East Bengal that was Hindu decreased from 30% to 19%. In 1991, it was down
to 10.5% The percentage further decreased from 2001, where the census
recorded it to be 9.2%, to 2008, when it was estimated to be 8%.
Chakmas are a Bangladeshi Buddhist community. Chakma immigrants from
Bangladesh have settled in the southern part of Mizoram because they were
displaced by the construction of the Kaptai Dam on the Karnaphuli River in
1962. Because there was no rehabilitation or compensation, they fled from
Bangladesh to India. In 2001, the BBC reported that many Bangladeshi Hindu
families had entered India to escape repression in Bangladesh because they
were members of minority religious groups.

1.3.1.3 Pakistan
Following the partition of India, massive population exchanges occurred
between the two newly formed nations, spanning several months. Once the
borders between India and Pakistan were established, a total of about 14.5
million people migrated from one country to the other, seeking safety from
being an adherent to the religion of the majority in their new country. Till today
the Non-Muslims face constitutional and legal discrimination in Pakistan.
Consequently, Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan have sought asylum in India;
many have arrived and are still arriving in the 21st century.

1.3.1.4 Tibet
Many religious refugees come from Tibet. The 14th Dalai Lama, left Tibet for
India after the 1959 Tibetan uprising. He was followed by about 80,000 Tibetan
refugees. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru agreed to allow Tibetan refugees to
settle in India until their eventual return to Tibet. In 1960, the government
of Karnataka state allotted nearly 3,000 acres of land at Bylakuppe in Mysore
district. In 1961, Lugsung Samdupling, the first Tibetan exile settlement in India,
was formed. A few years later another settlement, Tibetan Dickey Larsoe (TDL),

12
was established. Three more settlements were built in Karnataka and with this
the state acquired the largest Tibetan refugee population in India. As of 2020,
Karnataka has 12 schools run by and for the Tibetan community. Other states
have provided land for Tibetans. Jeerango in Odisha, has a large Tibetan
community and South Asia's largest Buddhist monastery. The government of
India has also built special schools for Tibetans, providing free education,
healthcare, and scholarships for students who excel in school. A few medical
and civil engineering seats at universities are reserved for Tibetans.
A document called the Registration Certificate (RC) is a permit for Tibetans to
stay in India, renewed every year or half-year depending on the area. Every
Tibetan refugee above the age of 16 must register for it, and RCs are not issued
to refugees who have newly arrived.

Figure 3

1.3.2 Refugees facing ethnic persecution

1.3.2.1 Ugandans of Indian-origin expelled in 1972

In 1972, the majority ethnic population expelled Asians from Uganda, including
those of Indian origin. Many Indians had settled in Uganda, fleeing from the
1947 riots in Pakistan and the 1971 Bangladesh genocide. The practitioners
of Indic religions (Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs) who are persecuted in
other countries are generally accepted as refugees in India.
In early August 1972, the president of Uganda, ordered nearly 80,000 Indians in
Uganda, to leave the country within 90 days. The expelled included 23,000
Indians who were Ugandan citizens. 4,500 refugees from Uganda ended up in
India. A total of 5,655 firms, ranches, farms, and agricultural estates were
reallocated; cars, homes, and other household goods were also seized.

1.3.2.2 Sri Lankan Tamils

More than 100,000 Sri Lankan Tamils live in India, most of whom migrated during
the rise of militancy in Sri Lanka, in particular during the Sri Lankan Civil War,
which lasted from 1983 to 2009. Most Sri Lankans are settled in the southern
states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and in Kerala.
13
 Figure 4

1.3.3 Citizenship
Indian nationality law is governed by the Citizenship Act (Articles 5 to 11 of
the Constitution of India), which was passed in 1955 included creating a
National Register of Citizens (NRC). Further Citizenship (Amendment) Acts were
passed in 1986, 1992, 2003, 2005, 2015 and 2019. The National Register of
Citizens of India (NRC), maintained by the government of India, contains
relevant information like names to identify citizens. India's federal and state
governments are at various stages to implement the NRC in all areas.

1.3.4 Legal Refugees

The current Indian nationality law largely follows the jus sanguinis (citizenship
by descent) as opposed to the jus soli (citizenship by right of birth within the
territory). Since India became an independent country, its government has
recognised legal immigrants from only Tibet and Sri Lanka as refugees from the
past, providing free education and identification documentation to the
former.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019, passed on 12 December 2019 in
the Parliament of India, states that migrants who came as refugees from
persecuted minority communities like Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and
Christians from neighbouring Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan before
31/12/2014 would be eligible for Indian citizenship, except Muslims, who make
up the majority of the three countries. It would also relax the requirements for
residents to become eligible for citizenship from 11 years to 6 years.

14
There has been concern raised at the lack of inclusion of several Non-Muslim
countries around India in the Citizenship Bill, such as Sri Lanka, over
whom several religious figures have raised concern over the citizenship status
of Tamil-speaking Hindus who were allowed to legally settle in the Indian state
of Tamil Nadu due to previous discrimination on the
island, and Nepal and Bhutan, the latter of which is accused of discriminating
against Hindus through a Buddhist-only society. Tibetans refugees from China
are also excluded from the bill despite being an ongoing concern.

1.4 Need of the project

India has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and even doesn‘t have any
national refugee protection framework. However, it continues to grant asylum
to a large number of refugees from neighbouring States on humanitarian
grounds and holders of UNHCR documentation too. In history, it has given
shelter to Tibetans, Sri-Lankans and others too. It has also given various facilities
to these refugee groups.
The newly passed Citizenship Amendment Act, though seen as a political
agenda, is another step that India has taken to help the persecuted Indian
origin minority groups outside its territory.
The step taken by the government allows these people to take a permanent
shelter in India, but once these people arrive in India from neighbouring
countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan they are not given any
proper assistance, as earlier the government has given to other refugee groups
like Tibetans and Sri-Lankans. Thus the minority groups continue to live in
vulnerable conditions even after coming to India due to poverty, as they
generally come after losing everything in their previous country. Being unskilled,
uneducated and unwell they further become a burden and pressurize the
systems of an over-populated nation. By creating and settling in slums they
degrade the neighbouring societies too.
The centre would assist these people and prevent them from becoming an
economic burden on the country in a long run. The primal care provided to
these people for a few months will ensure a comparatively better life for them
and their children.
Acc. to UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) 244,094
refugees & asylum seekers are provided protection & assistance in India, but
there is no purpose-built Refugee centre to assist them in India. Despite the
complex requirements of a refugee Centre, currently refugees take shelter in
slums & temporary camps. India’s history of accepting refugees is evidence of
both the seriousness of the problem of displaced people.
The centre will work as a ‘Transit centre’ or a ‘Reception Centre’, where
refugees are comfortable and safe during their initial stages of arrival. Transit
15
centres are primarily a life-saving measure & ensures that persons of concern
do not have to live in the open on their arrival.
The Centre will also teach them how to live in this country, will improve their
ability to enter & participate in the wider community as citizens, will help them
to begin a process of familiarization with Indian society its processes and
spaces & will identify their needs and find solutions.
The humanitarian dimension of the refugee requires a contemporary
architectural solution – a Centre where refugees can feel comfortable and
safe during the initial stages of arrival in India, with suitable buildings for
orientation programs.

1.5 Synopsis

1.5.1 Aim of the project

To design a transit centre for refugees where they can be safe and
comfortable & can get a shelter, food & health-care facilities during their initial
stage of arrival in India. The lifesaving centre will also give basic education and
training, to help them know and live in a new country in a better way.

Figure 5

Objectives
 To offer basic human needs to the immigrants, i.e. shelter, food, water,
healthcare & education.
 To care for & control the refugees coming from various cultural religious
backgrounds and also to protect them from violence & prosecution.
 To engage the refugees in various skill development programmes, to
boost the economy of the host country.
 To create a fitting centre for traumatized & displaced people entering
India.
 To promote the importance of recovery, rest, acceptance, education
& celebration of independence by architectural intervention.

16
1.5.2 Scope of the project
 Designing an integrated area for refugees with required infrastructure and
services.

 To control the illegal activities of the refugees and protect them from
violence and assault.
 Skill development centre for the refugees, to train them for a better life
And to make them a human resource for the nation.

1.5.3 Limitations of the project

 Offering a shelter to the refugees at any new place can be a problem
as it may create local tension.
 Creating a proper ambience for the people at a totally new place,
keeping in mind their cultures and believes would be a challenge.
 Getting a boost in the country’s economy through these un-skilled & un-
educated people, is another challenge.
 What daily life would be like in the centre is another concern as life
could not be only around food and shelter. So, involving these people
in trade and commerce would be a challenge.

1.5.4 Scale of the Project

 Site area needed for the project is approximately between 10 to 20
acres.
 The project will evolve on the horizontal scale rather than vertical scale,
because of low height structures which would be most suitable for the
user group.

1.5.5 Target group of the project

 Newly arriving minority groups of the neighbouring three countries of
Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, those are included in the CAA,
2019.
 Previously staying refugees in India who are in vulnerable condition and
are eligible for Indian citizenship & included in the CAA, 2019.

17
1.5.6 Design Methodology

18
 Chapter 2
Data Collection and Analysis

2.1 Literature Study

2.1.1 Introduction
 Religious minorities who generally are traders, businessman or landlords
in their countries & are targeted for ransom & threatened. The extremists
are able to spread fear & drive them to migrate & acquire their
properties. Poor & lower middle class who fail to get help move to India
for a better life.
 UNHCR often plays a complementary role to the efforts of the
Government, particularly in regard to verification about the individual’s
background & the general circumstances prevailing in the country of
origin. It also plays an important role in the resettlement of refugees.
 The refugees arrive generally on Short Term Visas (STV) like on Medical
Visa, Tourist Visa, etc. The STV is valid for 6 months and can be extended
on certain situations. The refugees then apply for Long Term Visas (LTV)
after stay further in India for years till they ultimately get an Indian
citizenship after 6 years. This process is a lengthy and complex process
and can take even more time.
 The time taken to process an application for a LTV depends on several
factors. This can take up to 2-8 weeks or even more. A “Certificate of
registration” is issued on getting a LTV, which can then be used to get a
Residence Permit. A Residence Permit is a requirement for foreigners
who want to work.

Figure 6

19
 Figure 7

Figure 8

2.1.2 Arrival in India

 A person leaves the country in which he/she is persecuted & arrives to
India on a ‘Short term visa’ (of less than 180 days), which they can get
while being in their country or can get a visa on arrival.

20
  After arrival a person registers with the UNHCR, which is the recording,
verifying & updating of information of concerned person. An ‘Under
Consideration Certificate’ (UCC) is given after registration.
 A person has to apply for a ‘Long Term Visa’ (of more than 180 days)
within 14 days of arrival in the nearest FRRO (Foreign Regional
Registration Office). On applying for LTV, a 6 month extension is given on
short term visas.
 While staying on the Long term visa, which can be for a period of 5 years,
interviews are done by UNHCR. On basis of this UNHCR makes a
determination on the refugee status, which can take upto 2 to 3 years
after registration.
 A refuge card becomes an identity of the concerned person. Acc to
CAA, people from persecuted minority communities of Afghanistan,
Pakistan & Bangladesh can get an Indian citizenship after living in india
for 5 years.

2.1.3 Major problems on arrival

 Slums - Refugees arrive in India with very few resources and its tough to
start a new life in a new country. Due to poverty and lack of assistance
they end up settling up at slums.
 Sanitation - Slums are areas known for poor sanitation & a leading cause
of diarrheal diseases. The human waste, stagnant water, garbage &
improper drainage are some common problems.
 Safety - In lack of basic amenities like closed toilets & power, With so
many teenaged girls & kids around It becomes really bad at night as the
entire area remains in dark.
 Education - Refugee children generally don’t have proper documents
of identification. This acts as a barrier for their education as they don’t
get admission in schools.
 Employment - Lack of skill set causes these people to remain
unemployed & it becomes hard for them to survive. This leads to
degradation of economy of the host country too.
 Assistance - Lack of assistance from the government further increases
their problem in every field. This leaves them to survive completely on
their own in a completely new country.

2.1.4 Humanitarian Aid

In the absence of refugee laws, refugees in India are mainly served on
humanitarian grounds only. Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance
21
to people who need help & its objective is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and
maintain human dignity.

The Sphere project, developed by the Red Cross & other such organizations, is
one which aims to improve the quality of humanitarian assistance. Its
Standards in 4 key response sectors are general and qualitative in nature & is
a description of what must be in place as a minimum for people to survive and
recover from crisis with dignity. The Sphere standards are the most widely
known set of humanitarian standards used all over world by NGO’s,
Government bodies, and UNHCR too. Its key indicators in all 4 sectors serve as
signals to measure whether the standard is being attained.

2.1.4.1 Water Supply, Sanitation, & Hygiene Promotion (WASH)

 Hygiene promotion
 Water management
 Excreta management
 Vector control
 Solid waste management
 WASH in healthcare settings

2.1.4.2 Food Security & Nutrition

 Assessments
 Management of malnutrition
 Infant and young child feeding
 Food security
 Food assistance
 Livelihoods
 Micronutrient deficiencies

2.1.4.3 Shelter and settlement

 Planning
 Location and settlement planning
 Living space
 Household items

22
  Technical assistance
 Security of tenure
 Environmental sustainability

2.1.4.4 Health
 Health systems
 Essential healthcare

2.1.5 UNHCR’S Standards

In India, UNHCR has its main office in Delhi and a field office in Chennai. It
works in partnership with governments & other organizations, to safeguard the
right & well-being of refugees. UNHCR sets certain standards to deal with
emergencies related to refugees, described in its ‘Emergency Handbook’. The
handbook provides a general guideline but not actual square metreage, but
the standards serve as a practical manual and reference tool for UNHCR &
the host governments for operations, resources and programme assessment,
planning, design, monitoring, management and evaluation. UNHCR
recommended 45m² per person for refugee camps or transit centres which
includes plots for shelter, non-residential buildings open spaces such as roads
& buffer zones.

 The transit camp must be strictly functional and equipped with

considerably higher construction standards than regular camps
 The layout should be based on open community forms & open
community services like water points & toilets to promote ownership and
better maintenance of the services by communities.
 Communities to be not of closed form, e.g. square-shaped, but
resembling more of an H-shape or U-shape, where sides are open for
better interaction with other communities.
 Prepared food should be provided & individual food preparation
should be avoided. The centre therefore needs kitchen facilities, wet
food distribution and a dinning space
 Accommodation: family accommodations to be made to house 5
person per family.
 Water supply: absolute minimum provision of 20 litres/person/day plus
water required for kitchens, cleaning and sanitation

23
  Sanitation: 20 persons per latrine, 50 persons per shower, plus regular
and intensive maintenance is required.
 Storage: 150 to 200 m3 per 1,000persons.
 Arrival and departure zones which are separated from
accommodation zones & should include registration and medical
clearance facilities.
 Administrative offices, staff accommodation, one health post and
separate accommodation for quarantine.
 Immediate, age and gender sensitive, recreational and learning
activities to be provided in safe and child-friendly spaces.
 Security Management Team, security plan, security fencing
(depending on circumstances) to avoid any situation between
refugees & the host community.
 Need of other areas like commodity distribution centres, community
centre, playgrounds, area for religious activities, recreation areas & fire
prevention breaks.

2.1.6 Space Standards

 Bedroom

Figure 9

24
 Classrooms

Figure 10

 Dining area

Figure 11

 Health centre

Figure 12

25
2.1.7 Sustainable Approach
 Natural day lighting – Day lighting interiors minimizes the need of
artificial light, reduces electricity and HVAC costs & the overall energy
savings can be up to 15-40 percent. It also lowers the carbon footprint
of the building. Innovative use of facades, windows & open areas can
allow daylight beautifully in interiors.

Figure 13

 Natural ventilation - Natural ventilation regulates the indoor climate and

changes the air in the building through openings in the façade and/or
roof. The result is lowered CO2 levels for a fresh & healthy indoor climate
and a cool indoor temperature during the summer months.

Figure 14

 Solar lights - Solar lights are a great alternative and a cost effective
solution for buildings since they help in reducing building energy
demand & saves electricity costs too.

2.1.8 Low-cost Approach

 Perforated brick walls - This technique helps in efficiently regulating the
interior temperature, by allowing free flow of natural air. It also creates
intricate patterns of light and shadows.

Figure 15

26
  Cement flooring - Instead of stone or ceramic tiles, using cement
flooring keeps cost down & easy to install & maintain.
 Exposed brick & Faux concrete walls - Exposed brick saves plastering &
wall painting costs, while using faux cement for colouring interior walls
requires less maintenance & gives a rustic look too.
 RCC Door Frames - Factory-made flush & PVC doors are cost efficient,
as they are less expensive and need less labour & other fixtures.
 Scrap wood for interiors - Using Scrap or reclaimed wood for interiors
proves to be an environmental friendly & a cost-efficient technique.

2.1.9 Barrier Free Approach

 Desirable stair to have 6.5-in. riser and an 11-in. minimum tread. Safety
nosing of distinct colour to be used without projecting.
 The recommended width for a one-way ramp is 3 ft between handrails
& at least 6 ft for two-way circulation ramp.

Figure 16

2.1.10 Skill Development Programmes

The vocational education or skill development programs intends to create
economic development of both men & women. The programs will train them
to specialize in certain fields of work and ultimately they will be able to earn for
themselves. Sewing & tailoring will provide self-employment to women and girls
at their homes, local market etc. and will uplift their self-confidence and
economic level. Programs needed to be introduced for skill development are
as follows -
 Tailoring
 Carpentry
 Computer education
 Construction
 Blacksmithing
 Healthcare
27
 Figure 17

2.2 Case Study

2.2.1 Case 1 - CEO Reception Centre, Netherlands

2.2.1.1 Introduction
Ter Apel village is the first destination for foreign nationals seeking asylum in the
Netherlands. The asylum seekers centre here is the largest permanent
reception centre of the country. From here the residents are distributed to
other quarters in the country.
Location: Ter Apel, Netherlands
Site Area: 24.7 acres
Year: 2017
Architect: De Zwarte Hond, Groningen
Landscape Architect: Felixx, Rotterdam
Construction firm: BAM Building Contractors
Number of residents: 2000
Construction Materials: Brick, Concrete, Steel

Figure 18

28
2.2.1.2 Facilities
 There are 258 living units on ground & upper floors that are clustered in
eight neighbourhoods arranged around the central park strip.
 Each neighbourhood has a square with various facilities for the people
in it.
 The Centre has eight laundry and distribution facilities, two offices, a
health centre, a primary school and three day-time activity facilities.
 Courtyards are provided for relaxing and socializing along with playing
facilities for children.
 Kiosks have been set up where the residents can collect needed utensils
& other such items.
2.2.1.3 Observations
 The reception centre is at a short distance from the surrounding villages
and towns.
 The entrance to the reception centre is formed by a green boulevard
that runs past the reception and leads to the central park strip.
 The central park strip forms the public heart of the community, where the
service buildings, facility centres, & the sports and playing fields are
located.
 Each neighbourhood has its own individually-designed square with
pavilion that also serves as a landmark, a hangout and meeting place.
 The housing units clustered around green courtyards all have an
atmosphere of their own, distinguished by the use of colour, pattern and
brickwork. The entrances to the units are all different and readily
recognizable.
 250 people live around a courtyard; 16 inhabitants share a house, 8 per
unit and on average they stay for 3 to 4 weeks.
 The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of the accommodation is 0
and hence energy neutral. This is achieved by applying high-grade
insulation, high-yield heat recovery, concrete core activation, solar
panels and a high degree of prefabricated building components.
 The single rooms are small, of 5 sq.mt. Floor area.

29
Figure 19

Figure 20

30
Figure 21

Figure 22

31
 2.2.1.4 Inferences
 Living conditions, safety and manageability are key elements in the
design.
 The clever configuration of residential areas and buildings creates
extra space between the units & provides more privacy for the
inhabitants and reduces potential tension due to high occupation
density at the centre.
 The design creates space for a landscape framework that allows for
a natural orientation in what is an unfamiliar area for the residents.
 Spatial elements and structures guide the asylum seekers via public
spaces to communal areas, and from there to their specific
accommodation.
 Long grass, mown paths and trees provide an ambiance for rest and
reflection.
 The plan is flexible and the units can be used for other purposes in the
future.
 Residents prefer to retire or go out into the open.
 The design of accommodations has an A++++ energy label due to
the green features.

2.2.2 Case 2 - Bhasan Char Refugee Camp, Bangladesh

2.2.2.1 Introduction
Bhasan Char, is an island in the Bay of Bengal which spans 40 sq.km. in area.
Located about 37 miles from the mainland, the island is formed by silt deposits
from the Meghna River over the past 20 years. Though the island is subject to
flooding during the monsoon season, Bangladesh government plans to
construct a total of 1,440 buildings, including 120 cyclone shelters, to relocate
100,000 Rohingya refugees from the mainland camps of Cox's Bazar.
Loacation: Hatiya Upazila, Bangladesh
Site Area: 1702 acres
Year: 2017
Number of residents: 1,00,000

32
 Figure 23

2.2.2.2 Development
The Bangladesh govt. tasked its navy to develop Bhasan Char & make it
habitable.
Construction Firm: Sinohydro, China
Architecture Firm: HR Wallingford, Britain & Mukta Dinwiddie MacLaren, Dhaka
Construction Materials: Brick and concrete are used as major building
materials and Steel/Metal roofs are built to sustain high speed winds during
cyclones.

2.2.2.3 Facilities
 A total of 120 plots for housing consisting of 12 buildings, one cyclone
shelter & one 5,461 sq.ft. Pond.
 Each cyclone centre can accommodate 1000 people and 200 cattle
during storms.
 The island has a small harbour & 2 helipads to connect it to the mainland.
 One building will accommodate 64 people & each block will
accommodate 768 people.
 Each family comprising of 4 persons, will get a 12 ft. by 14 ft. room to live.
 A total of 6 toilets & 4 bathrooms in each of the buildings.
33
  Around 1000 solar street-lights & 52,000 solar powered lights are placed
in buildings.
 There are 12 ft., 16 ft. & 22 ft. wide roads stretching around 42 kms.
 Two mobile towers of grameen phone and Robi installed on the island.
 Admin blocks, guest house, generator house, offices for the U.N. and
non-governmental organizations, schools, two 20-bedded hospitals,
relief centres, warehouses, fire & police stations, lighthouse, mosques, 2
megawatt power plants & a drainage network.

2.2.2.4 Observations
 Grid Iron pattern is adopted for planning of the camp on the island.
 Similar blocks consisting of same facilities in each, are made to create
smaller neighbourhoods.
 A small open area between 4 blocks act as a gathering space & a play
area for the children.
 Separate rooms are allotted to each family to give minimum level of
privacy to them along with basic amenities.
 Steps have been taken to safeguard the inhabitants from adverse
effects of cyclone.
 Provisions like pond & shelter have been made for the cattle too.

Figure 24

34
 Figure 25

2.2.2.5 Inferences
 Open spaces between blocks create a sense of community living
among the people which eventually gives them a social life.
 Activities like agriculture & cattle breeding give a source of livelihood to
the refugees and also make them skilled.
 Use of solar panels for lighting in the buildings make them self-sufficient
up to some extent.
 Other facilities like a water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant and
a skill development centre will make the life of refugees much better.

35
 Chapter 3
Site Study

3.1 Site Location

Site Location- Sec-33, Sonipat, Haryana (Sonipat comes under the National
Capital Region (NCR) too & is being developed as a satellite town of Delhi)
Latitude- 28.9931° N, 77.0151° E
Climate- Hot & Dry in summers & cold atmosphere in winters
Topography- Plain land
Soil type- Sandy & Sandy loam
Population- 14.5 lakhs
Accessibility- Site can be accessed easily by NH44 & NH334B
Nearest Railway Station- Sonipat Junction (7.8 km)
Nearest Police Station- Bahalgarh Police Post (4.6 km)
Nearest Airport- IGI Airport, New Delhi (65 km)

3.2 Criteria for site selection

3.2.1 Why Sonipat?

 Sonipat being developed as a satellite town of Delhi, can offer various
job opportunities to the refugees. The city enjoys facilities of the NCR too.
 Areas like Delhi, Gujarat & Rajasthan are popular destinations of
refugees arriving in India.

36
  Delhi houses the only UNHCR registration office in India & also a FRRO
office. This would make it easier for refugees to avail the services offered
by them.

3.2.2 Why this Site?

 The site is close to NH44 which connects cities like Sonipat, Panipat &
Delhi, which makes the site easily assessable.
 Site is lying close to commercial area in Sec-32 & to the agricultural
areas, to keep opportunities open.
 The Narela industrial area which is one of the main industrial zone of Delhi
lies at a distance of 16.5 kms from the site, which can offer various job
opportunities to the refugees.

3.3 About the Site

Site Area- 16.1acres (65491 m2)
Site Perimeter- 1088 metre
Elevation- 224.15 metre above sea level
Density- The area is sparsely populated
Required Bylaws- Haryana State Bylaws
Permissible F.A.R- 140 %
Permissible Ground coverage- 50 %

Figure 26

37
 Figure 27

3.4 Climate Analysis

 The sky of Sonipat district is heavily clouded and winds are strong during
rainy season. Winds speed is generally low post-monsoon and in winter
months.
 Daylight - On an average the city gets daylight for 10 to 14 hours a day

Figure 28

 Rainfall - During the entire year, precipitation aggregates up to 767.9mm

(30.2")

Figure 29
38
  Humidity - With an average relative humidity of 71%, August is the most
humid month

Figure 30

 Temperature - Average high temp. is 21°C (69.8°F) & average low temp.
is 8°C (46.4°F), January is the coldest month.

Figure 31

3.5 SWOT Analysis

3.5.1 Strengths
 Closeness to police post & to hospital at about 2.5 km distance would
help in case of emergencies.
 Easy accessibility to nearby main cities, through national highways &
through the upcoming metro service.
 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, an agricultural research institute, is located at a
distance of 6km from the site, can offer agricultural trainings.
 The flat land of the area creates favourable condition for construction
activities.

39
3.5.2 Weaknesses
 Using a site in the main city to host people of a different country can be
a reason for disputes among the locals.

3.5.3 Opportunities
 The developing city of Sonipat as Delhi’s satellite town can offer various
opportunities to the refugee population.
 Refugees will get a safe place to stay for a while & bring their life back
to normality.

3.5.4 Threats
 Sonipat district is located in zone IV which has fairly high seismicity where
magnitude 6-8 earthquakes occur & thus it is among the high-risk areas.

40
 Chapter 4
Preliminary Outcomes of the Proposal

4.1 Introduction
The refugees coming from the weaker sections of the society generally live in
poor conditions on arrival in India. The Primary proposal aims at raising the living
standards of the people and provide them with improved residences since
they are vulnerable and unfamiliar with the completely new society. Providing
them the other crucial facilities to make their life better is other concern.
Secondly a Pavilion could be an add-on structure to attract tourists from the
host society to raise a decent revenue for the facility and will also make them
aware of the struggles and the life of the refugees.

4.2 Design Programme

4.2.1 Built-up outcomes from activities

4.2.1.1 Accommodation
Proper shelters are needed to accommodate the population group in a safe
and clean environment.
4.2.1.2 Health centre
Poor living conditions of refugees make them vulnerable to diseases. A health
centre in campus can provide primary health care to people during the period
of their stay.
4.2.1.3 School
An educational institution to provide a learning space and a learning
environment to the refugee children would ensure a much better future for
them. It would also teach the people the basic rules, laws and regulations to
live properly in a new country.
4.2.1.4 Mess
A cooked food distribution facility with a dining hall and a kitchen facility will
ensure food security of the people.
4.2.1.5 Training centre
A vocational training centre will specialize the people in certain fields of work
and make them able to earn for themselves.

41
4.2.1.6 Administrative block
To facility will be needed to control and administrate the activities at the centre
to work efficiently.
4.2.1.7 Pavilion
To create a source of income for the centre and to make the host society
aware of the refugee dilemma so that they accept the new group in a friendly
way.

4.2.2 Area Analysis

42
4.3 Design Process
 With the main focus on the functionality of the centre and working on
‘Form follows Function’ the design should be evolved.
 Simple geometric forms like squares and rectangles to be taken to
ensure proper utilisation of spaces.
 Spaces to be planned and arranged to give easy and comfortable
accessibility to the user group.

4.4 Design Elements

 Exposed brick work to be used for keeping construction costs low and to
give an aesthetic quality to simple building forms.
 Creating a favourable environment for the user group by using
traditional Indian architecture style and adding some modern elements
to give them a modern look.

4.5 Site Zoning

Figure 32

43
4.6 Form Development

Figure 33

44
 Chapter 5
Design Development and Final Outcome

5.1 Introduction
The project is developed on a plot of about 16 acres. The facility will welcome
and accommodate about 600 refugees under permanent shelters. In
emergencies or if the centre receives more no. of refugees, open spaces of
the site can be further used to erect tents and accommodate them.

5.2 Design Development

5.2.1 Site Plan

4 zones are set divided by the internal site roads. The first one at the entrance
consists of the pavilion and it is the only general public zone where outsiders
can move freely. The second zone is entered through a second gate which
becomes barrier between the public and the non-public zone. The other three
zones inside area made for refugees and consists of facilities made for them.

Figure 34

45
5.2.2 Services and Networks
Services and other networks build the final site layout, a well-integrated one
where all the services work mutually and benefit each other in one way or
other. The pathways and green patches are made 150mm above road level
to be accessible only by pedestrian. The surrounding road network connects
and create a perimeter around each of the zones for easy monitoring &
becomes a clear way for the fire tender and patrolling vehicles to reach at
every corner of the site. The drainage and electrical networks are supported
by the service area of the site, present at the back portion of the site.

Figure 35

Figure 36
46
 Figure 37

Figure 38

5.2.3 Accommodation
Two large blocks which contains four smaller blocks in them is proposed to
accommodate the refugees under permanent shelter. Each small block act
as a community of 82 people, four such blocks further create a larger
community. In this way a hierarchy of spaces is attained and smaller clusters
create a larger cluster.

Figure 39
47
5.2.4 Facilities
Other structures to provide basic facilities for survival are proposed to care for
the refugees. These structures include a school, mess and a training centre. A
temple, ATM and refugee assistance offices are among other built structures.
Open communal spaces and playgrounds are provided to create better
human interaction and society.

5.2.5 Pavilion
The pavilion consisting of story boards, photography walls, audio-visual screen
and other exhibits is planned and designed in a modern architectural style.
Raw concrete and false structural elements increase the aesthetics of the
structure.

5.2.5 Temporary Structures

Proposal for adding temporary structures on site is made to benefit in case of
emergencies or when the centre receives larger no. of people and can’t
accommodate more in its permanent accommodation units. The site has
vacant land to erect tents and entertain more people.

5.2.6 Security
Keeping in mind the security issues that could arise due to introduction of a
new population group in a completely new society proper measures have
been taken. Apart from high boundary walls around the site, an inside security
perimeter is created to avoid any dispute from inside and outside too. The
security measures also ensures a peaceful environment inside the centre.

Figure 40

5.3 Summary
The Refugee centre proposed to be created on a site of 16.1 acres of land
would surely help individuals to live a better life on arrival to India. The facilities,
services and knowledge provided in the centre would make them a better
human being.

48
References/Bibliography

https://www.thebetterindia.com/206620/how-to-be-an-indian-citizen-
eligibility-rules-amendment-nrc-birth-parents/
https://www.indianbarassociation.org/indias-refugee-policy/

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-relaxes-rules-for-long-term-visa-
holders-to-grant-pakistani-minorities-more-rights-1287844-2018-07-17

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/25782-minorities-from-bdesh-
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https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/431-pakistani-hindus-given-long-term-
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https://scroll.in/article/946220/no-law-for-refugees-in-india-and-the-
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274882.html

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mha-clarifies-on-citizenship-to-
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https://www.livemint.com/news/india/india-is-not-being-overrun-by-
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https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/how-are-afghan-refugees-in-
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https://nsdcindia.org/pmkk

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