rescEU x Continest: Rapid Shelter for Europe’s Emergencies

When disaster strikes, every hour matters. Thousands can lose their homes overnight, and governments need fast, flexible, and sustainable solutions to provide safety and dignity. The rescEU program, part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, was created to strengthen Europe’s collective disaster response capacity.

The capacity is being developed under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism and provides temporary accommodation for affected populations in the event of natural or other disasters. As part of the project, Slovenia is establishing temporary accommodation capacity for 250 people, which – besides living quarters – includes a sanitation block, multipurpose rooms, storage areas for non-food items, as well as a logistics and management block to ensure the self-sufficiency and operability of the facility. The entirety of their infrastructure storage fits into a space as compact as an Olympic swimming pool.

In addition to Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Romania, and Turkey are also creating a rescEU temporary accommodation capacity. Altogether, these countries are preparing temporary accommodation for 9,000 people.

Continest’s foldable, modular container shelters were chosen for their unique combination of innovation, mobility, and sustainability. With up to 80% reduction in transport volume and CO₂ emissions, these units can be deployed quickly by land or air, then set up to provide safe, insulated accommodation with heating, cooling, and accessibility features. The stackability of Continest units means less warehouse costs and more space-efficient storing.

In partnership with the Slovenian Civil Defence Agency, Continest delivered 160 CN20 units and 2 CN Hybrid shelters, equipped with HVAC systems and accessibility ramps. Our team also trained local responders in assembly and operation, ensuring long-term readiness. These shelters now stand ready to support communities displaced by floods, fires, or other natural disasters.

The second training on setting up temporary accommodation containers was held at the Sežana Protection and Rescue Training Centre from 24 to 26 November 2025, as part of the “SI rescEU SHELTER” program within the RescEU Temporary Shelter Capacity Development and Maintenance Project.

A total of 40 members of defence, rescue, and relief units participated in the training, mainly from the National Rapid Response Unit, the Slovenian Red Cross, the Scout Association of Slovenia, and the Slovenian Catholic Girl Guides and Boy Scouts Association. Participants were introduced to the project’s objectives and, during the practical part of the training, tested various container configurations, including one equipped with autonomous solar power supply. A workshop was also held on the international Sphere standards and on preparing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) required for the deployment of the unit.

Between 6–7 March 2026, Continest successfully delivered the final training session for the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (URSZR). With more than 60 participants, the training concluded with a live rapid deployment scenario, demonstrating how rapidly deployable shelter infrastructure can support civil protection and disaster response operations in real-world conditions.

The Slovenian Minister of Defence, Borut Sajovic, visited the training and observed the deployment exercise firsthand. His presence further highlighted the importance Slovenia places on strengthening national and European disaster resilience capabilities.

The rescEU program supports European civil protection efforts and contributes to the development of rapid, scalable shelter solutions for emergency response in a complex way.