Millions of displaced people are housed in shelters that generally consist of a single room, meaning that activities including cooking, sleeping and socializing all take place in the same space. Therefore, indoor air quality can be poor, resulting in estimated 20,000 displaced people dying prematurely every year. Very few studies considered the issue and all within one country. This paper describes the first comprehensive study investigating air quality in shelters by looking at Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Particulate Matter (PM), and CO2 in ten locations within Peru, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Jordan, Turkey and Bangladesh. It has the aim of: (i) discovering how widespread the issue is, (ii) identifying some of the causes, (iii) whether it is linked to cultural and behavioural factors, (iv) location and climate, or (v) shelters’ materials or design. Results revealed very harmful level...

In lower-income countries, the risk of disasters is constant due to the high physical vulnerability of housing, primarily due to informal construction practices and a lack of government planning and control. Emergency Temporary Housing (ETH) is a crucial relief for families in need after a disaster, providing shelter and support. However, these temporary structures often fall short when considering the affected communities' broader social and environmental aspects. Issues such as inadequate design, insufficient attention to local customs, and environmental impact are common, compromising the long-term well-being and resilience of the affected population. This research analyzes habitability conditions in ETH through five case studies in Peru's three macro-regions: the coastal, highland, and jungle regions. The methodology involves a literature review and the identification of specific min...