< How the Project Has Started and Progressed >
	In the spring of 1994, the horrendous conditions in the refugee camps for more than two million people fleeing from the ethnic conflict in Rwanda was widely reported on. It was evident that living under a small plastic sheet of a shabby shelter would be extremely difficult during the rainy season.
	In October, 1994, we proposed the construction of shelters using paper tubes with insulating capacity to the UNHCR. Our proposal, however, was turned down because the good habitability and cost efficiency of such shelters would likely induce refugees to settle down in the camps.
	The UNHCR then made a counterproposal to us. One of the problems with the current shelters is that they induce the destruction of forests. A great number of refugees are using timbers, which were made from trees logged from nearby forests, to support plastic sheets. In order to solve this problem, various materials (such as bamboo, aluminum and plastic) were listed as prospective substitutes for timber. But each of them had a shortfall. Then, we discovered that paper tubes were more appropriate than these materials.
	Under the leadership of Mr.Neuman of the UNHCR, we have made three types of prototypes,tested their durability and waterproof perfomance, and have made various efforts to find the most appropriate diameter and a more effective waterproofing process. - Paper tubes produced by Sonoko Europe - Plastic sheet and joints produced by Taiyo Kogyo - Construction of the prototypes and durability/waterproof experiments carried out by Bitra
	In October, 1995, we made an on-spot-inspection of the following refugee camps in East Africa in order to get directly opinions of the UNCHR or NGO staff working there. Barorinya Camp in Pakere, Uganda for refugees from Sudan Benako Camp in Gara, Tanzania for refugees from Rwanda Rukore Camp in Gara, Tanzania for refugees from Burundi
	As the next step, we are planning to build 100 units of our shelters in the Rukore Camp, where conditions are relatively stable while the number of refugees are increasing, and carry out fields tests on their durability and habitability.
	While shelters for mid to long-term use are required in these camps, people there are making shelters by combining traditional mud walls and plastic sheets, and using a great amount of timber as frames for such walls. In our new project, we are trying to develop a hybrid shelter building method which use paper tubes as frames for mud walls.

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