Supporting safety and dignity for displaced families in Gedaref
- Since April 2023, conflict in Sudan has displaced more than one million people to Gedaref State in southeastern Sudan.
- Together with Save the Children, Better Shelter has supported a shelter response with 75 shelter frames installed in El-Saraf IDP Settlement and Abu Alnaja-D Reception Centre.
- The shelters expand existing settlements, support new arrivals, and have improve access to water, sanitation, and education.
Community involvement
This project also marked the first time Better Shelter’s frames with local materials were used in Sudan. Save the Children trained local contractors in assembly, and communities were involved in construction, using hazeer grass, bamboo sheets and grass mats for cladding, supporting both environmental sustainability and local ownership.
The shelters were introduced to the national Shelter and Non Food Item (NFI) Cluster and recognised as a context-appropriate and environmentally responsible solution. Community shelter committees continue to play an active role in maintenance and disaster risk reduction, including fire-prevention awareness.
Throughout the project, we worked closely to navigate challenges such as heavy rains, transport delays, and land availability. These experiences provided valuable lessons that will inform future deployments — from the importance of seasonal planning to the value of hands-on technical training and early coordination with local authorities.
