Natural disasters and armed conflicts often leave people homeless. Sometimes their homes are destroyed, and sometimes the region in which they live is no longer safe for them. For people who have lost all their belongings, a camp is often the only place where they can find shelter, access to water or toilets and other basic services.
Camps are not a substitute for a home, but properly managed they can become a safe temporary shelter for those who find themselves in them. However, to ensure their proper functioning their require the cooperation of many parties, including their residents, local organisations and humanitarian organisations.