Why millions of refugees remain in the dark despite living under national power grids
In short: For the 102 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, reliable energy is a luxury. While humanitarian offices run on air conditioning and computers, 94 percent of camp residents lack meaningful power access. Dr. Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen explores why modern energy remains elusive and how refugee-led solutions are finally challenging the status quo.
The energy crisis in refugee camps is a profound failure of infrastructure and governance. According to Dr. Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen, a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, 94 percent of displaced people living in camps lack meaningful access to power, while 81 percent rely on basic, often unsustainable fuels for cooking. This disparity is stark: while humanitarian workers in camp offices enjoy consistent electricity for air conditioning, water coolers, and computers, the households surrounding them often remain disconnected, even when national power grids physically pass directly over their camps.
Refugee energy access is currently characterized by a mix of informal, unreliable solutions. Households frequently rely on three-stone fires or charcoal for cooking, often engaging in 'fuel stacking'—using multiple small, inefficient stoves to boil water and prepare food. For lighting, many depend on basic solar torches or small panels that offer only minimal illumination. When electricity is needed for modern tasks like charging mobile phones or powering appliances, refugees must often pay for services at local shops, such as milk bars or charging stations, rather than accessing power within their own homes.
The barriers to improvement are as much political as they are technical. Humanitarian organizations have historically struggled with a lack of technical expertise and governance challenges, leading to a reliance on fossil fuels for aid operations. Dr. Rosenberg-Jansen, who has worked in the humanitarian energy sector for a decade, argues that the path forward requires moving beyond top-down aid. By supporting refugee-led action and fostering more inclusive, sustainable approaches, there is potential to shift from the current state of 'no access'—which she defines as a lack of affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy—toward a more equitable future for displaced populations in the global south.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Sustainable Energy in Refugee Camps - Dr Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen
- Also: Sustainable Energy in Refugee Camps
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