摘要: |
Refugee camps have come a long way since first formally established at the end of the 19th century, evolving from temporary, emergency encampments to long-lasting, multifaceted human settlements used as a provisional housing response to urgent situations. This paper takes an approach supported by the analysis of the development of refugee camps overtime, adopting a methodology of reviewing the literature on the subject, including institutional materials and academic publications. The objective is to set a structured knowledge obtained through semisystematic analyses that allow the confirmation of the need to adopt a new approach, in which refugee camps should not be assumed as temporary interventions, and as such, more structured interventions should be developed in the means and over time. From the review of the literature and the historical facts gathered, a chronological account is presented that allows an evaluation in which the evolution in the approach to the refugee camps is revealed. The same investigation also compares assumptions obtained from the analyses of similar recent works with the practical reality and the operations effectively carried out in refugee camps. The assessment reveals an evolution in the approach of researching the subject, having started with practical and operational connotations and incorporating normative aspects before progressing to a more analytical style, as identified in recent works. The article exposes the fact that those changes in approach are a reflection of the response to the growing physical and social complexities of the object of study, and it indicates points of intransience and meaning in the contemporary context of humanitarian habitat. The article also highlights the importance of a better understanding of the status quo of refugee settlements as a means to improve their planning and management. |