Housing & Roads in Ura Settlement
Housing & Roads in Ura Settlement
Roads and shelter in Ura Settlement
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What is the vision for spatial planning in Ura Settlement?
The Government of Ethiopia is pursuing solutions from the start for the Sudan emergency response. It has allocated land for Ura settlement and built road infrastructure to facilitate area-based local development. The local community and refugees embrace this vision of creating an integrated settlement in Ura woreda.
Investments in housing that are environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient, rather than temporary emergency shelters, which typically have a lifespan of less than a year. If the Ura settlement hosts a maximum capacity of 34,000 refugees, an estimated 7,300 environmentally sustainable and climate resilient housing solutions benefitting refugees and host community are required.
The Regional Government of Benishangul-Gumuz is committed to integrating Ura settlement into the structural and development masterplan of the Ura woreda. This will ensure that the Ura settlement plan is integrated within the local development planning of the Government. The Ura Settlement spatial plan is harmonized with regional plans.
The Regional Urban Bureau is committed to including the Ura settlement in its sector plan and budget.
The Regional Road and Transport Bureau is committed to working with partners to connect Ura settlement to the adjacent kebeles, Ura woreda, Assosa city and other major economic hubs by all-weather access roads. Internal roads within the settlement are upgraded to all-weather access roads.
Green areas developed in the Ura settlement are in line with the Green Legacy of Ethiopia and environmental protection initiatives.
What investments are required to realize the vision?
An estimated 7,300 climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable housing units that integrate refugee and host community populations need to be built.
Investments in Ura town – Assosa-Kurmuk main road (3.5km), Ura Settlement/Akuda Kebele – Ura town road (3 km), and Ura Settlement and Amba 11 Kebele road (6km) are critical to ensure that the settlement is linked to the major economic hubs of the region fostering opportunities for economic growth of the settlement and the Akuda kebele. Roads that are properly designed and equipped with lighting not only foster better security, especially for vulnerable groups, but also support access to critical services such as healthcare, education, and markets.
Enhancing 26 km of internal road infrastructure in the settlement by improving surfacing by paving and compacting the road with selected gravel materials, and street lighting can significantly boost safety, accessibility, and the overall quality of life. Improved connectivity and ease of movement within the settlement will contribute to social cohesion, making the internal features of the settlement more supportive of community building and daily life.
Enhancing open green areas in each block through landscaping, safety improvements, and recreational features. By investing in these spaces and involving the community, they can be transformed into vibrant social hubs that promote interaction, cultural exchange, and shared ownership, ultimately strengthening the settlement's resilience by promoting integrated social cohesion.
What are the enabling policies and strategies that guide investments?
The Government of Ethiopia’s 10-Year Development Plan identifies urban development as one of the key enabling sectors. The plan emphasizes several focus areas, including urban land registration and cadaster systems, modern property valuation, greenery and public spaces, waste disposal and management, and integrated infrastructure and services provision.
Ethiopia’s efforts to create inclusive and sustainable human settlements is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Specifically, SDG 11.1 focusing on ensuring access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services, as well as upgrading slums.
The Government of Ethiopia made a pledge at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum to transform selected refugee camps into sustainable urban settlements by 2027. This transformation focuses on enhancing the quality and availability of shelters, infrastructure, and public services such as roads, electricity, water, sanitation, health, and education, aligning them with the masterplans of adjacent towns. The decision of government authorities to create an integrated settlement in Ura is in line with its pledge.
UNHCR’s Strategic Framework for Climate Action outlines priority areas, including the provision of environmentally friendly and sustainable shelter and housing.
The Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure 2016 Policy, the Planning and Development Commission and the Ministry of Urban and Development’s 10 years strategic plan provide further technical guidance.
What are the national standards for housing and settlement planning?
Housing guidelines for emergency response:
- Minimum 3.5m2 of covered living space per person in tropical or warm climates, excluding cooking facilities or kitchen. Minimum height of 2m at the lowest point, with greater height being preferable to aid air circulation and ventilation.
- Shelter designs that can offer dignity and safety in addition to proception from the elements.
- Shelter designs which encourage sustainable material usage with minimal environmental disruption.
Settlement Planning Guidelines:
- Minimum 45m² per person of settlement total area.
- Maintain the existing ground cover (grass, shrubs, trees) of the proposed site, and prioritize sites that have sufficient ground cover as vegetation provides shade, protects from wind and reduces erosion and dust.
- Integrate ‘green buffer zones’ in settlement design to reduce problems of soil erosion and help to recharge aquifers. Ideally, buffer zones should be next to rivers and water channels.
- Support safe and equitable access to basic services.
- Providing an enabling environment for livelihoods and economic inclusion.
Site Planning: Design Drivers for Ura Settlement
In response to the Sudan emergency, a committee comprising of sectoral representatives from the Regional Government of Benishangul-Gumuz and RRS carried out an initial site suitability assessment to determine and rank potential settlement sites. Following the assessment UNHCRs and RRS carried out a multi-sectoral suitability assessment, in consultation with refugee and host representatives. The proposed settlement lands underwent thorough suitability evaluations and resulting in a site plan. The site plan can be accessed with this link.
UNHCR, RRS, implementing partners, and local authorities from Ura Woreda and Akuda Tumet Kebele carried out in March 2024 a protection risk assessment prior to initiating the relocation of Sudanese refugees from Kurmuk Transit Center. This assessment informed the housing solutions provided and identified the required government services to support refugees' access to education and health facilities.
A multi-sectoral site planning approach has been implemented for the Ura settlement, ensuring that housing, land, and property issues are duly considered. The demarcation of plots has been completed and shelters are being established in a phased manner.
Planning efforts have been initiated with regional authorities to expand basic services, with the ultimate objective of aligning avoiding the establishment of parallel systems of services for refugees and host community in the area.
Topography
The Ura settlement site features slopes ranging from 0 to 42.6%, with 86.7% falling below the recommended 20% gradient for construction. This favorable topography allows for minimal-cost development, while the remaining 13.3% of steeper areas should be preserved for environmental conservation, protecting natural ecosystems and preventing erosion-related challenges.
Land Use
Before its designation as a refugee settlement, the 350-hectare Ura site consisted of rangeland (83%), agricultural land (11.2%), and forest (5.8%). The settlement planning for Ura has carefully incorporated strategies to preserve the site’s diverse landscape, emphasizing the multifunctionality of the area.
Block and Community Layout
The Ura settlement consists of gridiron layout, which has been carefully divided into four zones (A-D); this provides opportunities for increasing land use, service accessibility, and emergency response. A block consists of eight communities, which are organized around a common open area and 16 family plots arranged in a 3x3 arrangement. This structured design allows for 128 family plots per block and supports community activities as the topography of the site limits the carrying capacity of settlement at 34,000 individuals.
Housing Solutions
The initial site assessment and protection assessments conducted had informed the decision to determine the preferred shelter typology for family shelters in Ura. The preferred design selection is on the existing host community shelter styles and the urban background of most Sudanese refugees. The shelter design has also been presented to the refugee community for endorsement before construction have been started on the site. The shelters are rectangular structures measuring 6m x 3.5m, framed with eucalyptus poles and temporarily covered with plastic sheets until they are upgraded.
A partition in the middle of each unit offers occupants a safe and dignified living space, aligning with cultural and practical needs. The design incorporates the potential for upgrades into more environmentally sustainable transitional shelters, allowing walls to be converted to mud-plastered surfaces and roofing to be replaced with grass thatch, ensuring both resilience and environmental compatibility.
Roads
Roads within the settlement extend primarily to Zone A and parts of Zones B and C, with plans to expand access across the entire site. The existing roads are unpaved, becoming nearly impassable during the rainy season due to mud, which poses significant challenges for mobility. By December 2024, UNHCR will pave a 5 km segment of the internal road network. The road network features major arterial roads spanning 15 meters between blocks and local roads of 8 meters between communities.
Current roads lack basic amenities such as street lighting, which creates safety concerns, particularly at night. The absence of lighting undermines the sense of security among resident, especially for women and children, and remain a critical factor in establishing a stable and comfortable living environment.