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Haiti Humanitarian Bulletin, Issue 22 - September 2012

Countries
Haiti
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Return and resettlement programs continue and contribute significantly to the reduction of the number of displaced persons in the camps

  • Cholera declines, but some departments face inadequate infrastructure for the management of new cases.

  • Rain destroys 300 houses in Anse-à-Galets

  • Crop losses estimated at $84,239,782.84; growing vulnerability of poor households in several departments of the country.

Earthquake response

370,000 Haitians still live in 541camps

Although the number of people living in camps has been steadily declining, the current camp population still stands at 369,353 people (93,748 households) in 541 camps. This represents a decrease of 5 percent, compared to June when the number of displaced persons was 390,276 (97,913 households).

The latest results of the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Monitoring Matrix (DTM), shows a decrease of 76 percent compared to July 2010 figures when the 1.5 million earthquake-affected were housed in 1555 camps.

The number of sites also declined during this period from 34,575 in June 2012 to 541 in August 2012, adds DTM.

Approximately half of the decline was in metropolitan Port-au-Prince, which registered a decrease of 11,904 individuals between June and August 2012. In other areas affected by the earthquake, Jacmel reported the largest decline, from 2891 to 1737 individuals between June and August 2012.

"This decline can be attributed to the implementation of various return and relocation programs conducted as part of the 16/6 project initiated by the government through its Housing and Public Buildings Construction Unit (UCLBP) and other similar mechanisms managed by CCCM Cluster partners (IOM, World Vision, Concern Worldwide, J/P HRO SRC),"said Luca Dall'Oglio, IOM departing Chief of Mission Haiti.

IOM states that five sites in the metropolitan area (Terrain Solino, Place des Artistes, Place Petion and Place Dessalines and Rezèvwa Boudon) were closed. Significant decline in the number of IDPs has also been registered in other camps such as Kan Neptune, Place de la Paix, Terrain de Golf and Maxo/Teren Boulos.camps.

Although Project 16/6: more than 3,500 new people relocated

Through its 16/6 program, the Haitian government on 7 and 8 September, moved 3670 people out of IDP camps as part of its strategy to relocate survivors of the 2010 earthquake.
A 10 September statement from the Prime Minister’s Office noted that 2500 people living in tents in Parc Sainte Thérèse in Petionville and 1170 others who were in the Ecole nationale "Republique du Guatemala" had been relocated.

Families were taken back to their original neighborhoods. The 16/6 program has enabled thousands of other families to leave public spaces such as the Champ de Mars, Place Saint Pierre, Place Boyer Petionville and Gymnasium Vincent.

The operation brings to 255,000 the number of IDPs who have been resettled by the Haitian government.

"Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, believes it is essential that all displaced persons return to their normal lives and is committed to pursue, together with President Martelly, the resettlement process respecting the rights and dignity of the displaced, as part of the fight against extreme poverty," the statement concluded.

The 16/6 project is a pilot program funded by the Government’s Haiti Reconstruction Fund (FRH) and co-implemented by several UN agencies and NGO’s. Apart from the initial relocation of all residents of six priority camps in the capital with provision for rental grants, 16/6 seeks to facilitate rehabilitation of 16 districts earmarked for returnees, through improved housing reconstruction, access to basic services identified by the communities and the creation of income-generating opportunities.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.