While water and sanitation is usually Oxfam’s core response, emergency shelter will also sometimes be part of a WASH programme. If there are unmet emergency shelter needs, Oxfam should address them or lobby for the intervention of others. Oxfam also constructs transitional shelters after disasters as a more durable response to the shelter needs of affected populations, based on needs, our own capacity, and funding availability. Construction of permanent housing is not considered an appropriate Oxfam humanitarian intervention, although Oxfam may engage in lobbying and advocacy work on permanent housing policies and interventions of others.

General Principles 

• Oxfam emergency and transitional shelter projects should be co-ordinated with the Shelter Cluster and relevant government departments.
• All of Oxfam’s emergency or transitional shelter interventions should follow SPHERE minimum standards for shelter and settlement. 

Emergency Shelter Materials and Distribution 

• Emergency shelter materials commonly distributed include tents, plastic sheeting, corrugated zinc or plastic roofing sheets, mattresses or floor mats, and blankets. All shelter materials distributed by Oxfam, including those purchased in local markets, should conform to international standards for quality.
• As displaced people often live in tents longer than planned, tent designs and materials should be appropriate for long-term use over several seasons. Lightweight camping-style tents are not suitable for humanitarian responses.
• Sufficient lengths of plastic sheeting should be distributed to meet SPHERE standards. 2 pieces of 4m x 6m sheets are often more useful to displaced families than a single sheet.
• Plastic sheeting should not be distributed without some fixing or fastening method. A sufficient length of polypropylene or natural fibre rope should be included with all plastic sheeting.
• Structural supports, such as bush or bamboo poles or timber, should be included if no salvageable materials exist, or if there is a risk of deforestation.
• Distributing nails and hand tools should also be included, as indicated by assessments. Toolkits to be shared among families should not exceed 1 kit for every 10 families. Practical training should accompany the distribution of tool kits. Provide simple information on assembling transitional shelters. 
• If blankets are to be distributed, 2 double or king-size per family member is the minimum requirement.
• To prevent or reduce the risk of standing water after rainfall and to prevent water infiltration into tents, attention should be paid to proper drainage ditches around tents. 
• Mobilise community or other support for households that are unable to transport or use shelter materials easily (e.g. elderly or child headed households) 

Shelter and NFIs for Hot and Cold Climates

• Shelter programmes in extremes of hot or cold climates need to be developed according to the context and local needs. If shelter NFIs are to be distributed in these contexts:
• Always consult locally on techniques (such as insulation), which can be improvised to fit with temporary or transitional shelters, or tents.
• Undertake community consultation to understand patterns of how shelters or tents will be used, and how this determines need for shelter-related NFIs such as additional shading, or fire buckets.
• Shelter interventions in hot climates should make consideration for night-time temperatures which can drop considerably – blankets etc. might still be necessary.

Water, Sanitation and Shelter 

• WASH staff should ensure that all Oxfam’s emergency shelter interventions are accompanied by adequate access to and supply of water and sanitary facilities.