IOM is providing strategic direction and organizational support
to almost 200 organisations dedicated to ensuring that populations
in Port au Prince’s more than 900 IDP settlements are living in
safe and healthy conditions.
The Petionville Golf Club settlement, which is managed by the
Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief (J/P HRO) and other partner
organizations, is believed to house approximately 50,000 people.
Many residents are situated on a steep hillside, deemed to be at
significant risk once the rainy season – expected to start this
month - begins in earnest.
Specialist engineers from the UN peacekeeping force, Minustah, and
the US military have identified several locations in particular
danger, as well as priority areas where mitigation work needs to be
carried out in order to prevent flooding and mudslides in the rest
of the camp.
As a result of this exercise, approximately 7,500 residents have
been informed that they are in dangerous areas designated for
movement, and presented with potential options for voluntary
relocation.
These include return, where possible, to their homes (if designated
safe by the government of Haiti and UN engineers), and seeking
accommodation with host families. Residents choosing these options
will receive a basic assistance package from humanitarian actors.
Where these options are not possible, relocation will be
facilitated for those residents identified as most at risk, to the
Corail Cesselesse site. Corail Cesselesse is a new site prepared by
IOM together with military engineers and humanitarian partners, and
located on land identified by the Haiti government.
J/P HRO together with Catholic Relief Services and IOM support has
conducted an information campaign within the Golf Club settlement
explaining this option. IOM has also facilitated two site visits by
community leaders to Corail.
The Corail site is suitable for up to 6,000 residents, and will be
prepared according to minimum standards, allowing for further
improvements over time. Golf Club residents who opt for relocation
will be transported by the UN peacekeeping mission Minustah to the
site, where they will be registered and be taken to a plot of land,
with a tent (provided by World Vision or Oxfam).
Services at the site will include: health clinic tent facilities
provided by Plan International and Save the Children; initial
provision of a food distribution tent operated by WFP and World
Vision and focused upon vulnerable groups; security services to be
provided by UN and Haitian police; distribution of hygiene kits by
Unicef; provision of toilet and shower facilities by Oxfam; a
learning area provided by Unicef and Plan International and child
friendly spaces operated by Save the Children.
The first day of relocation to the Corail site for an initial 100
families, is currently scheduled for Saturday 11 April. The process
is expected to take several days, depending on how many residents
opt for relocation to Corail.
For more information, please contact Bertrand Martin at IOM Port-au-Prince, Tel: +509 3859 8619, E-mail: bmartin@iom.int or Mark Turner, Tel: +509 3490 6678, Email mturner@iom.int
