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This Shelter Has Brought Safe Living To Thousands

It was created by Ikea and the United Nations' refugee office.
Posted at 9:56 AM, Dec 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-14 09:56:18-05

Easy-to-assemble shelters lets thousands finally have a safe place to live.

Before the shelters, most refugee families in camps called tents home. 

But tents offer little privacy, warmth or lighting and don't stand up as well to weathering. These shelters are expected to last three years and can house five people.

"You go inside a tent, it's low, this shelter, it's like a normal room if it wasn't for the cold and rain that leaks through," a Syrian refugee said

While many still have to find refuge in tents, 10,000 of the shelters were sent to camps and more are expected to be sent. 

Each shelter costs around $1,000 — or twice that of a typical refugee camp tent. They were created by Ikea and the United Nations' refugee office.

London's Design Museum just awarded the shelter the Beazley Design of the Year