Haiti: Six Months - International Organization For Migration

February, more than 165,000 families or approximately 720,000 individuals have been registered in more than 267 sites. The registration takes place in three phases. Initially, IOM registration teams distribute coloured coupons to heads of families living in a camp or spontaneous settlements. Then, the teams meet family heads to register all family members living under the same roof. The collected information is then entered into a database, which is accessible by all governmental and humanitarian partners providing relief to quake victims. “Registration allows us to collect vital information on the size and composition of the family and on their place of origin,” says IOM’s registration officer Jean Sébastien Jérome. “This is crucial to track secondary displacement. We also ask about their future intentions, which is important for planning purposes.” Overall, IOM registration staff have reported that most quake survivors say they wish to be sheltered in camps as close as possible to their former homes. strategies for our community mobilizers who regularly visit families in camps and settlements.” Resia Elois who comes from Belle Anse says she’d rather go to the nearby commune of Croix-des-Bouquets. Her neighbour, Michelson Denis who lives in the capital’s district of Cote-Plage with his two children simply wants his family to be registered. He says the oncoming rainy and hurricane season has put a special urgency on the registration programme. “We have to do as much as possible now because bad weather will seriously limit our operations,” says Jean Sébastien Jérome. “We’re ready to go as far as Léogane but no further as we would be too far from relatives. Ideally of course, I’d like to stay in the neighbourhood of Carrefour, because that’s where I can find work.” The data collected is crucial in planning the relocation of quake affected communities away from areas at high risk of flooding or landslides. To date, it has contributed to the smooth relocation of vulnerable displaced families to safe and planned sites in Tabarre Issa and Corail-Cesselesse, located 10 and 20 kilometres respectively from the capital Port-au-Prince. IOM’s Jean Sébastien Jérome notes that the initial stages of the registration process were plagued with misunderstandings. “Initially, some people thought we were registering them so they could get food or shelter. Others were reluctant to come forward because they simply did not understand the reasons behind the registration process. This is why it was crucial to set up communication When completed, the registration data will provide invaluable information to the government of Haiti and to all humanitarian actors who continue to seek appropriate medium to long term responses to the many needs of the displaced. M p Registration of homeless families. IOM/Haiti Press Network 2010 - MHT0597 (Photo: Witzer Cinéus) Migration Summer 2010

M oments after the 12 January earthquake struck, a few radio stations that had been decommissioned by the devastating 7.0 tremor managed to resume broadcasting. Many others fell silent however, buried under collapsed infrastructures. Many of the surviving journalists not only found themselves jobless but very often homeless. Out of this tragedy came of a wave of solidarity and sympathy as dozens of young and at times less experienced journalists took it upon themselves to keep Haitians and the world informed of the situation, hour after hour, day after day. Showing exceptional courage and dedication, teams of journalists and talk show hosts rallied to the few remaining radio stations that were still transmitting to set up a 24/7 broadcast to inform the public as to which buildings had collapsed, where voices of survivors could be heard and which hospitals were still operational. Without a functioning nationwide public communication system, the few private radio stations in the capital Port-au-Prince that were still broadcasting, opened their airwaves to an incessant flow of information that undoubtedly saved thousands of lives. The Role of the Media in the Reconstruction Six months on, although some journalists continue to live as displaced persons in camps and spontaneous settlements, their commitment towards supporting the media in the reconstruction effort remains unchanged. “Communication will remain indispensable throughout the reconstruction period and radio will be central to this”, says Sony Estéras who coordinates a network of community radio stations. In a country steeped in oral tradition, radio continues to play a predominant role in the lives of an overwhelming majority of people. Information, whether on health issues or the latest in arts and sports, is transmitted through the airwaves to be picked up throughout the country by radio hugging Haitians. By Clarens Renois, Haiti Press Network q To ensure a permanent dissemination of the news, radios were installed in tents. IOM/Haiti Press Network 2010 - MHT0609 (Photo: Clarens Renois) Summer 2010 Migration

p Creole language outreach materials on emergency preparedness efforts. Today, more than 3,000 radio community stations have resumed broadcasting a non-stop flow of information about and for the community. The capital Port-auPrince has more than 50 stations that broadcast a mix of news, views and entertainment 24/7. From giving a voice to the survivors in the days that followed the quake, radio stations are now encouraging Haitian listeners and those from the diaspora to take part in an increasing variety of programmes covering some of the many challenges that communities have to face. Radio Signal FM, which is based in the neighbourhood of Petion-ville, recently received an award from the US National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) for its vital role in keeping the Haitian diaspora closely informed throughout the crisis. Staff from radio stations that had been badly damaged in the earthquake showed a remarkable sense of duty to keep their public informed and a high degree of resilience and ingenuity to find ways to keep their programmes on air. “Radio kept us all informed with a sense of togetherness in the darkest hours of the quake”, says Sony Estéus. “It will now act as the cement that will bind us together, whether we live in cities or the countryside, as engaged citizens in the rebuilding and development of our country”. Basic studios were set up in whenever and wherever possible, in houses left standing or in some cases, under tarpaulins and tents. Their sheer determination was rewarded, both inside and outside of the country. 10 Migration Summer 2010 The fact that this radio station gave a voice to the voiceless, and offered an opportunity for them to tell their own stories of survival and fortitude, gave hope to many who were without news of their loved ones. The unconditional love of Haitians for diverse broadcasts stems from the days under the Duvalier regime when only a handful of media close to the regime were allowed to broadcast. Those that didn’t tow the line of the regime were promptly shut down. At the fall of the regime in February 1986, the airwaves suddenly opened up. Requests for broadcasting licenses subsequently mushroomed, and in less than a decade, Haiti boasted more than thirty community radio stations. They continued to grow, ultimately reaching the 3,000 mark nationwide. “All Haitian media and radio in particular want to play a positive role in the reconstruction of the country”, says Godson Pierre, who heads a group of alternative media. As for Max Chauvet, who owns Haiti’s oldest newspaper Le Nouvelliste, he believes the time has now come for the Haitian press to take a leading responsibility in the rebuilding of Haiti. “We represent the public opinion and our collective responsibility is to engage and guide debates on issues of national importance”. As for President Préval, he has promised to guarantee press freedom in Haiti. M

q IOM Community Mobilizers are a key link in the effective flow of information between displaced communities, humanitarian organizations and government counterparts. IOM 2010 - MHT0561 (Photo: Jared Bloch) Informing the population through Community Mobilizers (CMOB) By Mackendy Jean Baptiste, Haiti Press Network T he day after the January twelve earthquake, the half-a-dozen radio stations that managed to stay on air were a lifeline for a Haitian population faced with despair. Way before the intervention of the humanitarian agencies and before local authorities could react, the radio remained the only method of communication for 1.5 million Haitians suddenly displaced, as well as those safe but frightened in houses still standing. The radio was used to send messages for help, to spread news about the fate of relatives, and to share experiences of the earthquake. Haiti’s oral media was for once, much more social than political and it was to stay that way for many weeks after the earthquake. Internews, a US non governmental organization (NGO) quickly stepped in with “Enfomasyon nou dwe konnen” News You Can Use, broadcast daily in Creole through many of Haiti’s independent radio stations (21 in all). Today, six months after January 12, the government, International organizations and the NGOs are far better coordinated. However in the two departments most affected by the earthquake, the majority of the displaced population is still living in camps. humanitarian community and the displaced population. Many are out of work and penniless and keen to join the ‘cash for work programmes’ whereby they get paid to clear canals or debris. Many say they have received no aid for weeks. Rumors that forced evictions may occur is spreading talk of popular resistance. Every time humanitarian teams arrive in camps, there are expectations that there will be distribution of free food. “Now, it’s about getting closer to the people who do not always understand the action of NGOs, nor of the government,” said Pascale Verly, IOM’s communication officer overseeing the community mobilizers section. “When we distribute coupons to the people, often they think that we are going to give them food”, said Stephanie Daviot. IOM Registration Team Officer. In Vallée Bourdon camp, for example, hundreds of IDPS surrounded those who came to register the population. The population is often frustrated and confused about the role of those who come to the camps. The community mobilizers work to dissipate confusion, by engaging in dialogue and providing realistic explanations. To help avoid misunderstandings and the risk of chaos because of a lack of reliable information, the IOM has deployed special communicators to explain the situation to camp dwellers. This is what community outreach means and these young Haitians are playing a key role in preventing misunderstandings from blowing up into violence. Humanitarian agencies on the ground all value the work of the ‘community mobilizers’. It has quickly become a key element in communicating between the Getting closer to the people Supported financially by the Japanese government and the Emergency Relief Response Fund for Haiti (ERRF), IOM’s communication department in Haiti helps the government transfer messages to the IDP population. In fact, government messages often Summer 2010 Migration 11

reach the IDPs effectively because of the Community Mobilizers. Their key role is to inform and sensitize the people affected without leading to inflated expectations and subsequent disappointment and anger. Mobilizing the Community Most of the Community Mobilizers are university graduates. They are recruited based on their capacity to engage in dialogue with the communities, to work in a stressful environment and their ability to maintain good relationships with different segments of the population. These basic qualifications are then complemented through ongoing training. The Community Mobilizers support other IOM teams with their work. “The other departments of IOM are like clients to whom we provide a consistent communication service to facilitate their own task in the field”, said Elisabeth Labranche, a 25 year old philosophy major, befitting her role as a Community Mobilizer. “Upstream or downstream”, the communication team has a fundamental place in the registration process”, explained Stephanie Daviot. Her team’s main responsibility is to collect precise information on the families living in the camps, and the families do not always understand the reason for and the implication of these activities. Based on this, a campaign of sensitization and information outreach, orchestrated by the Mobilizers who must have a good rapport with the population, is necessary before the Registration Team can undertake their work. The Mobilizers continue to inform the population throughout the registration process. At the end of the registration, those registered always want to know what action will be taken as a result of the information collected. Edée, was worried that this would be just one more registration which, once again, will be left without any follow up. The IOM Communication Team also uses alternative media; Kenny Mix, a Disc Jockey (DJ), known to many Haitians, toured the camps as the mobilizers handed out flyers to describe the different steps of the registration. “We favour oral and visual communication” explained Pascale Verly. Tragically, Kenny passed away in June and is mourned by many in Haiti. The Mobilizers were able to ease the concerns of the population of the Vallee Bourdon when the government wanted to relocate to another safer camp. Relocation is only one of the five options for the displaced but these people were hesitant to move far from their original communities and their way of life. In response to concerns from both those being relocated and the host community, IOM encouraged committees to form to welcome the IDPs. Members of these committees explained how the new settlement camp would function in order to ease apprehension among the IDPs. As a result of this work more than 7,300 people have decided to relocate since the beginning of the relocation process. q IOM 2010 - MHT0275 (Photo: Juliana Quintero) “The information gathered during our registration campaign allows us to create a database that will serve in the reconstruction process for the country”, said Pierrot Rugaba, a manager with the IOM Registration Team. According to Rugaba, “this is the beginning of a communication process that will inform the reconstruction of the country, a process that takes into consideration the essential needs of disaster affected Haitians.” M The communication flows in the reverse as well so that IDPs provide feedback to the humanitarian actors through IOM’s mobilizers. p IOM 2010 - MH T0280 (Photo: Juliana Quint ero) Other times, the Mobilizers are used to ease the fears of camp managers. “Many NGO have already done a registration here” complained Gerson Edée, Manager of Centre Sportif in Carrefour, which accommodate more than 780 IDP families. 12 Migration Summer 2010 p IOM community staff discusses concerns with camp resident. IOM 2010 - MHT0560 (Photo: Jared Bloch)

Voluntary Relocation: The case of Corail Cesselesse and Tabarre Issa By Louis-Joseph Olivier, Haiti Press Network p Residents of flood-prone Vallée de Bourdon being assisted with relocation to Tabarre Issa Camp. IOM 2010 - MHT0594 (Photo: Daniel Desmarais) W ith row upon row of tents neatly pitched on a vast area of cleared ground, the size of twenty football fields, its roads, health care centre and check point manned by the Haitian police and UN blue helmets, Corail Cesselesse looks like a recently built small town. Located some 20 kilometres from the capital Port-au-Prince, Corail is now home to more than 1,300 families who lost everything in the 12 January earthquake. “My house was completely destroyed and my children were terrified”, says Guilaine Lapointe. We had no choice but to quickly find a place to shelter”. Public parks close to the destroyed Presidential palace were quickly taken over by the homeless and desperate crowds. Guilaine and her family eventually found refuge in the courtyard of college Saint Louis de Gonzague, a private institution in the capital’s Delmas 33 neighbourhood. In the panic that followed the quake, survivors paid little attention to the potential dangers that their place of refuge could represent. Issues relating to site preparation were simply Within days of the tragedy, large population displacements occurred, with tens of thousands of homeless people converging on free open spaces, in schools and other public and private buildings. Soon after, spontaneous settlements mushroomed in and outside of the capital of Port-au-Prince and in many other parts of the country. p A father and his daughter at Tabarre Issa. IOM 2010 - MHT0616 (Photo: Jared Bloch) Summer 2010 Migration 13

not taken into account, nor were immediate measures to improve the living conditions of the displaced. “Days after the 12 January, our main goal was to avoid having blocks of concrete fall on our heads and because it wasn’t raining, we were not concerned about flooding and landslide risks”, says Ronald Vital who settled in Tabarre Issa camp. Up to 50,000 displaced persons found refuge on the grounds of the Petion-ville golf club, which sprawls above Port-au-Prince. Of these, some 5,000 settled in areas declared by the Government of Haiti to be at high risk of flooding. With Haiti in the midst of the rainy and season and with every likelihood that hurricanes will strike the island, many camps and settlements hosting tens of thousands of people are at grave risk of flooding. Many sites are difficult to access or are established on steep slopes or areas at risk of landslides, as is the case for the Vallée de Bourdon site, which lies beneath the main road to Petion-ville. Coordinated efforts to encourage families to move away from high risk zones towards safer neighbouring areas continue. As part of the global strategy, five options were identified by the Government of Haiti and the humanitarian community for people living in unsafe areas. Option 1: The first, and preferred option, is for people to return to their homes, whenever deemed safe. This effort is led by the Government of Haiti, working with UN partners, which are carrying out structural assessments of houses and buildings and communicating which houses are safe, as well as answering co

orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity