The Challenge

Around 82.4 million people are forcibly displaced and are living in different temporary settlements around the world. The supply of accommodation is one of the top priorities after any conflict or disaster. More than six million refugees are living in camps globally, primarily in places where climate conditions are harsh. While camps are planned to be a temporary solution, they can be in use for decades. An estimated 1 million “Rohingya refugees” are living in camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. After the mass influx of Rohingyas from August 2017, within a matter of a month, an estimated 702,160 Rohingya refugees had arrived in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh from the western Rakhine State of Myanmar due to escalating violence and persecution. The newly arrived refugees were accommodated in self-built, makeshift shelters made of bamboo, sticks, and low-grade plastic sheeting (known as tarpaulin) which is not a sustainable solution. The shelters are highly vulnerable to damage from cyclone-level winds, monsoon rains, pests and require extensive and expensive maintenance every six months. 

In emergency shelter design, the key challenge is in the ability to create a locally resourced, comfortable, thermal insulative, healthy, and structurally sound yet lightweight housing material that can be assembled and disassembled rapidly. The most common current shelter designs do not respond to extreme thermal conditions to which inhabitants are usually exposed. One of the key issues is the lack of thermal resistance of roofing and cladding material. Roofing and cladding materials, without thermal inertia or capacity to store heat, lead to rapid changes in temperatures inside. 

The Solution

With Islamic Development Bank funding, a rugged, low-maintenance, locally produced shelter made from plant-based material (Jutin) in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar was introduced. Jutin shelters addressed most challenges faced by existing shelters in the camp in terms of durability, indoor temperature, humidity, and light. The natural jute fiber is biodegradable, inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and easily available in the region and is used to reinforce concrete. Jutin shelters lower the indoor temperature and humidity and have trans-opaque Jutin roofs that deliver natural light to the house during the daytime. The life-improving assistance that this innovation provides to vulnerable people is safety and comfort.  

Jutin shelters improve the quality of life by creating a more comfortable environment. Unlike bamboo, Jutin is pest-resistant, opaque, soundproof, and durable. It supports health, dignity, and results in money-savings. Unlike corrugated iron, Jutin has low thermal conductivity and is rust-resistant, moderates temperatures in the home and eliminates the need for frequent maintenance. The trans-opaque roof allows the household to use natural daylight energy and the thermal resistance property keeps the house cool in summer and warm in winter. These properties have reduced household electricity consumption by 50%. The innovation exerts less stress on the environment because it is made of widely available indigenous natural fiber. Jute is completely biodegradable, and the resin being used is bio-acceptable. The entire process of Jutin production will not emit any CO2, whereas conventional concrete housing structure emits 45000 kg CO2 in the environment.   

Key Achievements

• Approval from Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to use Jutin as an alternative shelter material in the refugee camp.
• Recognition of Jutin shelters as the first Jute based climate resilient shelter for the Rohingya refugees in the national and international platform (Relief Web, Arab News)
• Provided 10 houses to 10 families of six members to improve their sense of safety, dignity, and improved indoor

Potential to Scale-up

Jutin has been patented in Bangladesh by Dr. Mubarak Ahmed Khan under the Department of Patents, Design, and Trademarks. There is a commitment to transfer the technology to develop the capacities of IsDB member countries.  The technology transfer will require resource investment in capacity building, raw material acquisition, and training support. Technology licenses can be issued to develop the capacity of Member Countries to address similar housing challenges. Other natural fibers that have been proven used include coconut and, banana stems, as well as cotton.

The innovation has the potential to be scaled up in other IsDB member countries and other leading jute-producing countries such as Uzbekistan, Sudan, Egypt, etc. This is, because the product as developed is simple in design, cost-effective, replicable, bio-acceptable, energy efficient, and sustainable, therefore, meets the basic criteria of scalability.

The ease of relocation and portability of the housing model allow for efficient transfer to any location within a confined area and brief duration. Jutin, being lightweight yet durable, enhances its potential for scalability in different settings. Many housing settlements can be set up in as little as a month. Additionally, this housing model is easily adaptable for low-cost urban housing, earthquake-prone countries, labor housing, health clinics, schools, military camps, and temporary facilities.