IKEA Partners With United Nations To Provide Temporary Homes For Refugees

Furniture World News Desk on 12/1/2015

The Christian Science Monitor reported that IKEA has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to supply long lasting housing for refugees from Syria and elsewhere that are longer lasting and more comfortable than tents.

The article noted that, "Like many of IKEA's offerings, "Better Shelters" arrive in easy-transport flat-pack containers and take 4 to 8 hours to assemble, by hand. They're essentially shipping containers with a lightweight, steel frame, polymer panels, and slanted, 6-foot roofs topped with solar panels. Some offer 57 square feet of living space, while others offer 188 square feet, enough room for a family of five, and nearly double the size of standard tents provided by the UNHCR.

"It's the details, however, that make these shelters notable. They come with windows, mosquito nets, lights, ventilation, and a lockable door to keep women and children safe from sexual violence, a common problem in many refugee camps. The houses can also be disassembled and reused when needed. A solar-powered energy system affixed to the roof provides energy for LED lights or for charging a mobile phone."

Read the entire article by clicking here.