Almost five weeks after Tropical Storm Noel, more than 2,600 people are still displaced and living in 31 shelters in the Dominican Republic.
IOM is appealing to donors for US$300,000 to fund quick impact initiatives to help some 6,000 people affected by the floods to regain sustainable sources of income through a Food for Training Programme.
In partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), which will provide and distribute basic food items, IOM will work with the most vulnerable groups such as single women heads of households to link food assistance with training in self sustaining activities and to provide the tools needed to restore sources of income.
IOM has successfully implemented similar activities in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela, where they have resulted in sustainable livelihood improvement for affected populations and in increased capacity and resilience towards natural disasters.
Among other activities, and in coordination with the Dominican Red Cross, Civil Defence and the Centre for Emergency Operations (COE), IOM is working with government authorities and civil society to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches displaced persons residing in shelters, whilst addressing coordination gaps between the different shelters.
Following IOM-organised field assessments with delegates from the Dominican Red Cross and Civil Defence, a joint report on shelter management and coordination identifies the main gaps in shelter management, highlights positive aspects and formulates recommendations to improve shelter coordination and delivery of emergency supplies. The joint report also highlights the importance of linking humanitarian assistance to other initiatives that will allow affected people to regain their livelihoods and reduce dependency levels.
Tropical Storm Noel caused severe flooding over 80 per cent of the territory affecting more than 79,000 persons and destroying and damaging some 20,000 homes.
A copy of the report is available on the IOM Website www.iom.int
For more information please contact IOM Washington, Niurka Piñeiro, Tel: +(1) 202-862-1826 Email: npineiro@iom.int