Informal Settlements & Collective Centres

Overview

In Northeast Syria, the SSWG lists approximately 151 informal settlements hosting 157,000 individuals (27,000 households) and 80 collective centres hosting 15,500 individuals (2,800 households). Populations in these last-resort sites have often been displaced multiple times, primarily by conflict although also due to the continuously deteriorating economic situation.

Informal settlements and collective centres generally do not benefit from regular service provision compared to camps due to the number of them, their location and the capacity of humanitarian actors to support both in-camp populations and those in other last-resort sites.

Collective centre

A collective centre is existing public infrastructure that hosts displaced persons. This existing public infrastructure was not originally designed as a shelter and is instead a re-purposed school or community center. Collective centres do not have a static Camp Management or Camp Administration, though mobile Camp Management or local civil councils may be present.

In Northeast Syria, the majority of collective centres are school buildings that are being used to host displaced families.

Informal settlement

A spontaneous grouping of tents or other housing units that may include unfinished or abandoned building (5+ HHs). Settlements are usually without the presence of a dedicated Camp Administration and do not have static Camp Management, though mobile site management site coordination activities may cover the settlement. Unfinished or abandoned buildings that are privately owned are considered informal settlements, while buildings that are publicly owned are considered collective centers. Housing rented or provided by the host community is not to be considered an informal settlement or collective center—this is considered private accommodation and/or hosting within host community.