Large scale displacement crises demand more than isolated shelter solutions. Refugee camps must function as complete living environments from the first day of deployment, providing safe housing alongside reliable water supply, energy systems, and sanitation infrastructure. When these elements are delivered separately, camps often face operational failures, health risks, and rapid deterioration. A turnkey approach that integrates water, energy, and housing into a single coordinated system has become the most effective model for building resilient, scalable refugee camps under urgent conditions.

What does a turnkey refugee camp mean?

A turnkey refugee camp is a fully integrated settlement delivered through one unified delivery process. Housing units, water infrastructure, energy generation and distribution, sanitation systems, internal roads, and communal facilities are planned, produced, installed, and commissioned together.

This approach eliminates fragmentation between contractors and systems. Instead of adding utilities after shelters are installed, infrastructure is designed as part of the settlement from the outset. Modular and prefabricated construction enables this integration by allowing technical units such as water treatment modules, power rooms, and sanitation blocks to be deployed alongside housing in a synchronized sequence.

Advantages

Operational readiness is achieved faster. Camps become livable immediately because housing, water, and energy systems are activated together rather than in phases.

Public health risks are reduced through integrated water and sanitation planning. Clean water supply, wastewater treatment, and drainage systems are designed to match population density and usage patterns, lowering the risk of contamination and disease outbreaks.

Energy reliability improves camp stability. Integrated power solutions such as generators, hybrid solar systems, and modular distribution units ensure continuous electricity for lighting, healthcare facilities, kitchens, and security systems.

Logistics efficiency increases through coordinated delivery. Housing units and infrastructure modules are optimized for transport and installed using a shared schedule, reducing congestion and delays on site.

Scalability supports population changes. Camps can expand in defined phases, adding housing blocks and infrastructure modules without disrupting existing residents or services.

Longer service life is achieved through engineered systems. Turnkey camps are designed for extended use, allowing temporary settlements to function safely for years when displacement becomes prolonged.

Usage areas

Integrated turnkey refugee camps are essential in a wide range of humanitarian scenarios.

Refugee camps for cross border displacement
Internally displaced population settlements
Long term humanitarian camps transitioning to permanent communities
Emergency camps supporting post disaster displacement
Reception and transit centers requiring rapid mobilization

In all cases, the success of the camp depends on how well housing, water, and energy systems operate together.

Dorce’s approach

Dorce delivers turnkey refugee camps through an end to end methodology that prioritizes integration, speed, and durability. Camp master plans are developed to balance population density, circulation, safety, and future growth. Housing units are engineered alongside water treatment systems, storage tanks, power generation units, and distribution networks to ensure seamless functionality.

Off site production enables consistent quality and rapid output of both buildings and infrastructure modules. Flat pack and modular formats are selected based on logistics constraints and site access conditions. Installation teams follow standardized sequencing that allows infrastructure to be commissioned in parallel with housing assembly.

Dorce’s experience in delivering large scale camps in challenging environments ensures that systems are adapted to climate conditions, resource availability, and operational realities. Water and energy solutions are designed to be robust, maintainable, and compatible with humanitarian standards and donor requirements.

Turnkey refugee camps transform emergency response into organized settlement delivery. By integrating water, energy, and housing into a single coordinated solution, Dorce enables humanitarian partners to deploy camps faster, operate them more reliably, and provide displaced populations with safer and more dignified living environments.