Nepal, Refugee camps for Bhutanese refugees
A milestone in the distribution of solar cookers was set in 2006. For 7 Bhutanese refugee camps, a solar cooking program was launched in Nepal by the Vajra Foundation Nepal in cooperation with the UNHCR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and Dutch refugee relief. The program included the construction of 6,300 solar cookers and 12,000 hot-water containers, as well as training and instruction in solar cooking.
Advantages of using solar energy in the refugee camps:
- enormous cost savings as little fuel has to be purchased,
- no conflicts with the local population around the scarce wood stocks in the vicinity of the camps,
- Significantly fewer respiratory tract diseases,
- Cleanliness, less soot particles in huts and clothing,
- lower risk of fire due to open fire,
- less CO2 emissions.
EG-Solar e.V. would also like to provide “aid to self-help” in other refugee camps. What is missing are partners in the many camps and financial resources. For the construction, implementation and support of the 7000 solar cookers in Nepal, approximately 1.5 million EUR were spent.