PORT-AU-PRINCE [ACTED News] - Close to two years after the deadly 12 January 2010 earthquake that hardly hit the city of Leogane, hundreds of families still live in makeshift shelters in unhealthy conditions. ACTED is rehabilitating 340 houses in the city in order to encourage the return process for displaced families while ensuring the safety and decency of their living conditions.

On the road that leads to Leogane, surprise and consternation overwhelm those who pass through this 130,000 inhabitant city, twenty kilometers away from the capital Port-au-Prince. Greatly damaged by the earthquake, the road was split in two, revealing buildings’ foliage. Upon arrival in the city, one can only observe the damage and the amount of rubble covering the streets.

Leogane was the hardest hit town by the 12 January 2010 earthquake. 80 to 90% of the town’s buildings were damaged, and a quarter of the population may well have died. Leogane is still difficultly recovering almost two years later, the population is living in precarious conditions and is confronted with a very complicated economic situation.

The ACTED study “Haitian household economic situation and indebtedness” shows that 94% of interrogated households consider themselves as being in a situation of indebtedness. The lack of financial and material resources prevents the displaced families from rebuilding and resettling in their homes.

An important psychological impact

ACTED, with support from the British Department for International Development (UKAID/DFID), undertook a Structural Damage Evaluation, covering 16,293 buildings, which allowed communities to know in which state their homes were, and which ones were considered “inhabitable”. The project’s main focus is to repair 340 homes that were partially destroyed by the earthquake. The intervention will allow 340 families to leave the insalubrious spaces they were dwelling, but also to be provided with “a secure and totally renewed home,” explains ACTED Leogane Area Coordinator Gerald Servé. “By profoundly rehabilitating the houses, beneficiaries felt like they were entering new homes. The psychological impact of finally breaking away from the earthquake is very important,” he added.

Rose-Carmelle, a beneficiary of the program, said: “After the earthquake, we were living in a courtyard for fear a roof would fall on our heads, and we couldn’t afford to repair our house. We were lucky to be selected among ACTED beneficiaries. This is really good news!” Sonson, owner of a house repaired by ACTED, concurs: “I was wondering how I was going to get out of this mess. The earthquake took everything away from me. I’m so happy my house has been repaired. I can finally go home!”

Thanks to this project, supported by British Cooperation and French group of cities Axe Sud, which ended in November 30th, 340 households have received housing repair support through the rehabilitation of 266 buildings. The intervention has allowed 340 families to recover decent living conditions after the earthquake.