EXERCISE
DRAFT 30 December 2014
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Branch Office Santa Rosalia
San Felipe IDP Camp # 1 Situation Report
As of 30 March 2015
Location:
San Felipe, northern Isla del Sol (2° 52’ S, 169° 19’E).
The camp is located immediately to the southwest of the centre of San Felipe.
Camp Description:
San Felipe IDP Camp # 1 was originally constructed in February 2011 to house internally
displaced persons fleeing conflict in northern Isla del Sol. The camp was constructed on
available open ground near existing spontaneous IDP settlements. In July 2011, the IDP camp
population dramatically increased with persons whose homes were destroyed in Cyclone Felix.
The camp population again dramatically increased in February 2014 with persons whose homes
were destroyed in Cyclone Arnel.
The camp occupies approximately four square kilometres on open terrain. The camp perimeter
is marked by a single-strand barbed wire fence meant for little purpose but to delineate the
camp boundaries.
Upon arrival at the camp site, each family unit (5 persons) is provided with a basic kit consisting
of:



Plastic sheeting (3.7 m X 6.1 m; 12 ft. X 20 ft.)
non-food items (“NFIs”) including:
o Ground sheet (1 per family unit)
o Wool blanket (1 per family member)
o 10 litre collapsible water container (2 per family unit)
o 2 litre cooking pot and utensils (1 per family unit)
o Hygiene kit containing:
 Comb X 1
 Detergent washing powder 1 X 25 oz. package;
 Disposable razor X 5
 Sanitary napkins X 12
 Shampoo 2 X 8 oz. bottles
 Soap bar 2 X 3 oz. bar
 Plastic soap dish X 1
 Toilet paper 2 X 500 sheet rolls
 Toothbrush X 5
 Toothpaste 1 X 2.5 oz. tube.one blanket per family member.
Dry rations for 5 persons for 3 days.
With few other building materials locally available, most camp residents have been forced to
live in the open, using the plastic sheeting for cover during inclement weather (NB: The camp is
located in a desert area with few days of inclement weather.).
Camp administrators and aid workers operate from several trailers in a complex at the camp’s
centre. There is a small clinic run by Association of Medical Doctors of Asia.
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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Branch Office Santa Rosalia
San Felipe IDP Camp # 1 Situation Report
30 March 2015
Separated and unaccompanied minors are housed in tents in an area set aside from the general
camp population.
Cyclone Felix (2011) and Cyclone Arnel (2014) caused over 700 deaths in this camp. Subsequent
waterborne disease outbreaks resulted in over two thousand residents suffering water-borne
diseases.
Camp Population

Number: Approximately 35,000

Demographics:
o
Breakdown of the camp population by sex and age group:
 Children 0 to 5 yrs. (both sexes)
25%
 Children 6 to 17 yrs. (both sexes) 20%
 Men 18 to 50 yrs.
25%
 Women 18 to 50 yrs.
25%
 Elderly 50+ yrs. / (both sexes)
5%
o
Breakdown of the camp population by ethnic identity:
 Lahui Kanaka
50%
 Mestizo
28%
 Mohajerani
20%
 Other / no ethnic identity stated
2%
Most family units report at least one family member as missing.
There are number of separated / unaccompanied minors with no adult family member in the
camp. These separated minors are housed separately in an area within the camp operated by
Save the Children.
Cluster Lead Agencies / Implementing Agencies:.
Camp Management and Coordination: UNHCR (supporting Isla del Sol Ministry of the
Interior)
Food Security: WFP (co-lead), FAO (co-lead), WVI, OXFAM, CRS
WASH: UNICEF (lead), OXFAM, Isla del Sol Red Cross, Mercy Corps
Health: Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (supporting Isla del Sol Ministry of
Health)
Non Food Items: CRS
Emergency Shelter: UNHCR (lead), CARE
Protection: UNHCR
Education: UNICEF, Save the Children
Tracing: ICRC
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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Branch Office Santa Rosalia
San Felipe IDP Camp # 1 Situation Report
30 March 2015
General Conditions:

Medical Issues:
Infectious diseases, gastrointestinal and diarrheal illnesses, and respiratory illness
remain present in the camp. Despite efforts of the Isla del Sol government and the
humanitarian community, medical support generally remains insufficient. Exposure to
the elements and malnutrition in recent arrivals have undoubtedly contributed to
complications that have arisen in a number of cases of relatively minor illnesses which
otherwise could have been easily treated.

Security:
Security is provided by the Isla del Sol Guardia Civil.
Most serious security issue are crime-related activities, including petty theft, committed
both amongst camp residents on one another and by townspeople from San Felipe
against people in the camp. Isla del Sol officials, anxious to portray that they are doing
their best to support the IDPs, are working closely with camp management to minimize
disruptive behaviour by both camp and San Felipe residents.
Increased camp insecurity has become an issue since 2013 when SIS terrorists began
raiding supplies destined for San Felipe camps. SIS does little recruiting from the San
Felipe camps. Further, Mohajerani Criminal Gangs have kidnapped many young girls for
human trafficking purposes.

Food Security:
Food supplies are increasingly dependent on the international humanitarian community.
Sporadic cases of acute malnutrition have been reported in recent camp arrivals. While
generally there is no malnutrition in the general camp population, there remains an
inadequate reserve supply: Immediately following Cyclone Arnel, camp management
instituted food rationing for one week until additional supplies were brought in to
replace those destroyed by the cyclone.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH):
Locally sourced potable water remains in short supply. Regular deliveries of potable
water are received from the San Felipe treatment plant. This has been a major factor in
the inability of the health care providers to reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal and
diarrheal diseases among the camp population. While there is sufficient water for
drinking and cooking, there remains an insufficient water supply for proper personal
hygiene.

Shelter:
With the exception of unaccompanied minors housed in tents provided by Save the
Children, shelter for virtually all camp residents continues to be self-built structures
utilizing plastic sheeting. There is a lack of locally available materials from which
residents may build more permanent structures. As a result, the shelter situation
remains inadequate for the needs of the population and has contributed to the poor
health conditions of the camp
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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Branch Office Santa Rosalia
San Felipe IDP Camp # 1 Situation Report
30 March 2015
Specific Problems:
1. Inadequate shelter.
Most camp residents live in makeshift structures. The few wooden structures built by
the inhabitants were destroyed in Cyclone Arnel and have not been replaced. It is feared
that if the camp is struck by another cyclone, many of the camp residents will be
vulnerable to its effects, resulting in injuries, illnesses and loss of life.
2. Inadequate water.
There is insufficient water for proper personal hygiene needs and this lack has
contributed to health issues. There is enough potable water for drinking and cooking,
which is brought in from the local treatment plant. Local potable water supplies are
insufficient for the camp population.
3. Food security.
While there is no malnutrition, there are inadequate food supply reserves. On the
average, there is no more than 3 days of food supplies on hand.
4. Medical support.
There remains a shortage of medical personnel, supplies and equipment. The camp will
not be able to cope with anticipated medical requirements should another cyclone
strike the camp.
5. Psychosocial issues.
The continued conflict in Isla del Sol, after affects from Cyclone Arnel, concerns about
their homes and ability to return to their former livelihoods, and lack of knowledge
about missing relatives are increasing worries for the camp population. Many residents
are anxious to return to their homes. It is reported that, for an increasing number of
residents, hope to return to their pre-displacement lives is dwindling, causing an
increased number of cases of depression, especially among the elderly and head of
household family members.
6. Tracing.
While camp resident families have been successfully reunited or learned the fate of
their missing family members, there remains a large number of families with missing
members and a large number of separated minors within the camp population.
7. Absorptive capacity.
San Felipe Camp # 1 is currently at capacity and unable to receive any dramatic increase
in residents. It continues to remain vulnerable to another possible cyclone. Camp
management is concerned that a cyclone as strong as Cyclones Felix or Arnel has the
potential to kill or injure thousands.
8. Camp security.
Camp security has become an issue since 2013 with kidnappings by Mohajerani Criminal
Gangs, especially of young girls and women, and SIS terrorists raiding supplies destined
for San Felipe camps.
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