1700 earthquake-affected families relocated in transitional shelters in Port-au-Prince

It’s been more than a year since the earthquake, and Port-au-Prince’s urban landscape is still dotted with displacement camps. Despite considerable efforts undertaken by aid agencies since 12 January 2010, the relocation of populations has met many obstacles, worsened by the complex Haitian land issues. ACTED has however been implementing a transitional shelter program in the capital and its surroundings, with support from the American Red Cross (ARC). The project should allow 1700 earthquake-affected families to have a roof over their heads, while reducing their vulnerability to risk and future disasters.

Like every day, ACTED Shelter chief mobilizer Denis Francy is in the field. Today, he will visit the Croix-des-Bouquets suburb of Port-au-Prince. He has a long day ahead of him. He is due to check up on a camp where people are to be evicted while ACTED is coming up with a relocation solution, and another let to ACTED by the local government for transitional shelters.

Three days to evacuate

Lilavois 8 looks like any other camp that was set up after the tremor and has now become part of Port-au-Prince’s landscape. Like any other, it is made of tents and makeshift shelters. But this one is on a piece of land whose owner wants back. He has threatened to evict the people, who cannot afford to pay any rent or willingly relocate. Most are highly vulnerable – there are many pregnant women, children and elderly people – and they are at risk of seeing their condition further deprecate. The camp leader cannot hide her sorrow: “The situation is tricky. The landowner gave us 3 days to clear out. He says he will come with armed men to destroy our tents and spread panic. Most [camp dwellers] don’t know what they will do if they leave.”

A long hard search for building land

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is in charge to the country’s many camps, and is therefore consulting partners such as ACTED, to find solutions to such eviction risks and other property-linked issues, which have been hindering the relocation process. The constraints are numerous; many owners lack certificates, some cannot be found, and even State-owned land is hard to make available. In an effort to solve land availability issues in a densely populated zone like Port-au-Prince, ACTED has been negotiating with local town halls to be able to use public spaces for transitional shelters. A glimpse of success came in Croix-des-Bouquets, where 60 shelters could be built on a strip of land belonging to the town. ACTED should relocate some of the most vulnerable people who have been living in such conditions for over a year, as well as families from the Lilavois 8 camp, who don’t have their own land.

“I’m going to have my first very own house!”

Young mother of three Nadège Mervilus should soon benefit from the scheme. “We used to live with strangers. After the earthquake, that took my husband, we were sent away and have been living in a uncomfortable tent ever since. There are six of us in there, and when it rains, we are flooded. Having my first very own house is great news!”