The Role of Southeast Asian Forests in Refugee Shelter and Protection

Across Southeast Asia, millions of people have been displaced by conflict, persecution, and environmental pressures. Many of these refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) have found themselves in or near forested regions—dense jungles along international borders, tropical rainforests, and secondary woodlands. Forests are not merely passive backdrops; they actively shape shelter options, access to resources, and levels of safety for displaced populations. Understanding the complex relationship between forested areas and refugee welfare is essential for humanitarian actors, governments, and local communities who must design effective and sustainable responses.

Southeast Asia contains some of the world’s most biodiverse forests, from the Cardamom Mountains of Cambodia to the hill forests along the Myanmar-Thailand border and the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. These ecosystems have historically provided refuge for people fleeing conflict, but they also pose distinct challenges: limited infrastructure, difficult terrain, exposure to natural hazards, and the presence of armed groups. This article explores how forested regions influence refugee shelter and safety in Southeast Asia, and outlines strategies that can improve both outcomes while respecting environmental limits.

Forests as Shelter Environments: Opportunities and Constraints

Natural Building Materials and Thermal Insulation

One of the most immediate benefits of forested areas for displaced populations is the availability of natural materials for constructing shelters. Bamboo, rattan, palm leaves, timber, and large leaves can be used to build walls, roofs, and flooring. These materials are often renewable, locally abundant, and culturally familiar to many refugee populations from rural backgrounds. For example, in the forested border camps along the Thai-Myanmar frontier, many refugee shelters have historically been built with bamboo frames and thatched roofs, providing natural ventilation and thermal comfort in tropical climates.

Forest cover also offers microclimatic benefits. Dense canopy reduces direct solar radiation and moderates temperatures, which can be crucial in the humid tropics where heat stress and disease vectors are prevalent. Shelters built under tree cover remain cooler than those in open areas, and the leaf litter and undergrowth can absorb rainfall, reducing runoff and flooding around dwellings. These passive benefits are especially valuable when humanitarian resources for climate-appropriate shelter designs are limited.

Concealment and Security from Persecution

In many Southeast Asian conflicts, refugees deliberately choose forested areas as hiding places from military forces, militias, or government authorities. The thick vegetation and remote locations make surveillance and ground patrols difficult. For instance, Rohingya refugees fleeing from Myanmar’s Rakhine State have hidden in the hilly, forested border areas of Bangladesh and Myanmar. Similarly, ethnic minorities from Myanmar’s Shan and Karen States have sought sanctuary in the dense forests along the border with Thailand. Forests provide a degree of physical screening that can mean the difference between life and death during active hostilities.

However, concealment is a double-edged sword. While forests can offer temporary protection from armed actors, they can also become traps when surrounded by military forces or when natural barriers—rivers, cliffs, impassable thickets—limit escape routes. Moreover, refugees living in remote forest camps may be far from legal protection and humanitarian monitoring, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, forced recruitment, or extortion by non-state armed groups that also operate in those areas.

Infrastructure Deficits and Humanitarian Access

Forested regions typically lack the roads, electricity, water supply, and sanitation systems that are standard in more developed areas. Building a functional refugee camp in such terrain requires clearing land, which can damage the ecosystem and provoke conflicts with conservation authorities. Roads needed for aid delivery are often seasonal, becoming impassable in the monsoon rains that drench much of Southeast Asia from May to October. This isolation complicates the delivery of food, medicine, shelter materials, and safe drinking water.

Sanitation is a particular challenge. Dense forests can make it difficult to construct latrines and waste management systems that meet minimum standards. Improper waste disposal can contaminate water sources and attract disease-carrying vectors. Outbreaks of diarrheal diseases, dengue, and malaria are common in forest refugee camps, exacerbated by poor drainage and standing water. Health outreach workers often struggle to reach remote settlements, and emergency evacuations—for medical emergencies or when natural disasters strike—can be severely delayed.

Safety Risks Specific to Forested Refugee Settlements

Exposure to Natural Hazards

Forests in Southeast Asia are vulnerable to landslides, flash floods, and wildfires. Refugee settlements built on slopes or in floodplains are at high risk. The 2021 floods and landslides in Myanmar’s Chin and Rakhine states impacted both local communities and displaced populations sheltered in forested camps. Monsoon rains can wash away flimsy shelters and weaken bamboo structures, forcing residents to rebuild repeatedly. In some cases, deforestation around camps for firewood and construction materials removes the natural anchor of tree roots, increasing landslide risks.

Wildfires, often started intentionally for land clearing or inadvertently by campfires, can spread rapidly through dry forest undergrowth. Refugee camps with wooden and thatched structures are extremely combustible. Several fires at the Kutupalong mega-camp in Bangladesh (which sits in a partially forested landscape) have destroyed thousands of shelters. Early warning systems and firebreaks are often absent in remote forest settings, leaving communities highly vulnerable.

Wildlife and Zoonotic Diseases

Living at the forest edge increases exposure to wildlife—both dangerous animals (snakes, bears, wild boar) and those that carry zoonotic diseases. Rats, bats, and primates can transmit pathogens such as leptospirosis, hantavirus, and Nipah virus. Deforestation and human encroachment push wildlife into closer contact with human settlements, raising the risk of disease spillover. For refugees with limited healthcare access, a simple snakebite can be fatal if antivenom is unavailable.

Gender-Based Violence and Exploitation

Isolated forest camps without adequate lighting, secure latrines, or community policing are high-risk environments for gender-based violence. Women and girls collecting firewood or water in the forest are particularly vulnerable to assault. Humanitarian organizations have documented elevated rates of sexual violence in forested refugee settings compared to more open camps. The physical distance from formal justice systems and the difficulty of patrolling dense terrain make perpetrators harder to catch. Child soldiers and forced labor also occur when armed groups use forest cover to hide their activities.

Strategies for Improving Shelter and Safety in Forested Zones

Humanitarian actors and local governments are developing targeted interventions that address the specific challenges of forested environments while leveraging their benefits. The following strategies are being implemented across Southeast Asia.

Using Durable, Local Materials with Improved Design

Rather than importing generic tent materials that degrade quickly in forest climates, agencies are investing in locally sourced bamboo, treated timber, and fiber-cement sheets. Research by the Global Shelter Cluster has shown that bamboo shelters treated with borax to resist insects and rot can last several years. Designs incorporate raised floors to avoid flooding and woven walls that allow airflow while providing privacy. Roofs are pitched steeply to shed heavy rain. These shelters are more sustainable, culturally appropriate, and cost-effective than imported alternatives.

Community-Based Camp Planning and Forest Management

Involving refugees in camp layout decisions reduces environmental damage and improves safety. Community committees can designate zones for shelter construction, water sources, latrines, and firewood collection. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) supports reforestation and agroforestry around camps to reduce erosion and provide sustainable fuel. Refugee-led tree-planting initiatives, like those in some Thai border camps, restore degraded land and improve the microclimate. Community patrols that include both men and women have proven effective in reducing violence and illegal logging.

Mobile Clinics and Telemedicine

To overcome infrastructure deficits, organizations deploy mobile health units equipped with satellite communication for tele-consultations. These units travel to remote forest settlements on a rotating schedule, offering primary care, maternal health services, and vaccinations. Drones are increasingly used to deliver essential medicines and diagnostic samples to hard-to-reach camps, bypassing washed-out roads. The UNHCR and partners have piloted drone delivery in the Philippines and Myanmar with promising results.

Integrated Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction

Improved weather monitoring combined with community-based disaster committees can save lives. Rain gauges, river level sensors, and satellite imagery are used to predict floods and landslides. Refugees are trained to respond—mapping safe evacuation routes, reinforcing shelters before storms, and stockpiling emergency supplies. Firebreaks are cleared around camp perimeters, and firefighting training is provided to volunteer crews. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) offers guidelines adaptable to camp contexts.

Secure Zones with Community Policing and Lighting

Creating safe zones within forest camps requires investment in infrastructure: solar-powered streetlights along pathways and around communal facilities, secure latrines with locks and lighting, and designated safe spaces for women and children. Community-based complaint mechanisms and referral pathways for survivors of gender-based violence are being strengthened. In Thailand, the Border Consortium supports community security committees that mediate disputes and coordinate with local law enforcement to prevent violence. These measures build trust and reduce the anonymity that enables exploitation in dense forests.

Case Studies: Forested Refugee Settings in Southeast Asia

Thai-Myanmar Border Camps

For decades, refugees from Myanmar’s ethnic states have lived in camps along the forested mountainous border of Thailand. Examples include Mae La, Umpiem Mai, and Ban Don Yang. These camps sit on slopes covered with bamboo and secondary forest. Humanitarian agencies have gradually replaced bamboo huts with semi-permanent structures using treated bamboo and corrugated metal. Community forestry programs have reduced deforestation, and solar microgrids provide lighting to improve nighttime security. However, access remains difficult during monsoons, and land rights disputes with Thai authorities persist.

Rohingya Displacement in Bangladesh

While the mega-camp at Kutupalong is not entirely forested, its expansion has consumed significant forest area in Cox’s Bazar. The loss of tree cover increased landslide risks, leading to deaths during the 2018 monsoon. In response, UNHCR and partners reforested degraded slopes with fast-growing trees and planted vetiver grass for soil stabilization. Bamboo was promoted for shelter frames over less durable plastics. Despite these efforts, overcrowding continues to stress the remaining forest. The case highlights the need for early environmental planning in refugee crises.

Indigenous Peoples in Forest Refuges

In the highlands of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, ethnic minority groups often flee to forested areas to avoid assimilation pressures or land confiscation. These “displaced” populations may not fit the legal definition of refugees but face similar challenges. Their shelters are often entirely constructed from forest materials, and they rely on traditional knowledge to navigate the risks of wildlife and disease. Humanitarian actors increasingly use a “do no harm” approach, respecting indigenous land rights and supporting self-built shelters with minimal external intervention.

Balancing Humanitarian Needs with Forest Conservation

Forests are not infinite resources. Large refugee populations can cause rapid deforestation through firewood collection, timber extraction, and land clearing. In the long term, environmental degradation undermines the very protection forests provide—increasing vulnerability to climate shocks, resource conflicts, and disease. Sustainable solutions require integrating conservation into humanitarian response from the outset. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and UNHCR have collaborated on guidelines for environmental management in displacement contexts, promoting fuel-efficient stoves, alternative livelihoods, and reforestation.

Humanitarian agencies must also coordinate with forest management authorities, who often have overlapping jurisdiction. In some cases, protected area regulations have prevented aid delivery or forced refugees into less suitable locations. Better coordination and flexible policies—such as allowing temporary use of forest resources during emergencies—can reconcile protection of nature with protection of people.

Conclusion: A Context-Sensitive Approach

Forested regions in Southeast Asia will likely remain important destinations for refugees and IDPs due to their physical cover, abundant natural materials, and proximity to insecure borderlands. However, these environments require specialized humanitarian strategies that go beyond generic camp planning. Shelters must be durable yet adapted to local materials; safety must be enhanced through lighting, community patrols, and disaster preparedness; and environmental sustainability must be embedded in every phase of the displacement response.

By recognizing the dual role of forests—as both a resource and a risk—humanitarian actors can design interventions that respect the agency of displaced communities while preserving the ecosystems that sustain them. Continued investment in local materials, mobile health services, early warning systems, and community governance offers a path toward dignified, safe, and sustainable shelter in Southeast Asia’s forested regions.