Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) aims to ensure that people live in safe, sustainable, and resilient habitats with the opportunity to thrive, whether in a remote mountain village, a town, or a densely populated urban centre.

The region is ravaged by natural disasters and a protracted conflict. 15 Structures were intended to be included in AKAH’s emergency response to displaced families. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, 4 units were equipped to function as offices and changing rooms for medical staff operating in covid-19 clinics, built out of Relief Housing Units (RHUs).

The Structure units were assembled firstly with a tarpaulin, which provided the initial and emergency coverage of the activities undertaken in the shelter. With time, some units were upgraded with locally available materials, especially upon the arrival of winter, when local winterization techniques were implemented in the shelters to guarantee adequate isolation and thermal comfort.

When the COVID-19 situation has improved in Afghanistan, the Structure units will likely be relocated and repurposed to address the urgent needs of the population. These may include temporary shelters for families affected by natural disasters, shelters for other displaced communities, health clinics in remote areas and educational centres.

For more information, check out the Structure Pilot Report and Report Summary.

For more information on the Aga Khan Development Network, click here.