In the twenty-first century, a predominant global issue occupying the world’s attention is the ongoing enormous refugee crisis due to wars, environmental disasters, or persecution. According to Devictor and Do (2017), the average period of exile for forcibly displaced people at the end of 2015 was 10.5 years (Devictor and Do 2017), during which many refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) spend their entire lives in camps. As a result, camps are increasingly being seen as long-term settlements rather than temporary housing. Regrettably, this necessity is mainly neglected by the planners of humanitarian organizations during camp planning. Regarding shelters, which are considered a fundamental human necessity, refugees are often offered inadequate or no semi-permanent infrastructure and facilities. As a result, camp dwellers are often forced to live in crowded and unhealthy living conditions for years. This chapter illustrates the global need for emergency shelters. First, an overview of global displacement will be given. This is followed by exploring long-term issues imperative for this field today. In closing, a framework of sustainable design principles will be outlined to propose a way forward.