The IHRC approved a major project submitted by the Office of the President of the Republic of Haïti to rehabilitate 16 priority districts submitted by the Presidency of the Republic. This project, which affects the municipalities of Port-au-Prince, Delmas and Petion-Ville, will facilitate the return of more than 5000 displaced households living in tent camps to their original neighborhoods.
Port-au-Prince, August 17, 2011. - After the January 2010 earthquake, 1.5 million people were left homeless and 634,000 remain in over 1000 IDP camps. Additionally, thousands of Haitians whose homes were not completely destroyed by the earthquake continue to live in poverty in shantytowns and around the capital, in precarious sites exposed to weather risks and lacking access to basic services.
Recognizing the urgent need to accelerate the reconstruction of Port-au-Prince, through the identification of sustainable housing solutions for displaced persons and residents of the neighborhoods and the improvement of living conditions in these neighborhoods, the IHRC has now approved a major project to rehabilitate of 6 camps in 16 priority neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, Delmas and Petion-Ville, a project submitted by the Presidency of the Republic of Haiti.
This project aims to facilitate the integrated reconstruction of 16 neighborhoods including Morne Hercule, Morne Lazard, Nérette, Delmas, Pan American, Villa Rosa, Canapé Vert Bois Patate, etc. through the rehabilitation of housing, access to basic services prioritized by the community and the creation of income-generating opportunities. At the same time, this project aims to facilitate the voluntary resettlement of 5,239 households – approximately 30,000 people - who are originally from these neighborhoods, who are currently spread out among the 6 targeted IDP Camps spread across the municipalities of Port-au-Prince, Delmas and Petion-Ville.
Costing a total of 78 million dollars, the project 16 neighborhoods 6 camps, which was approved by the IHRC August 16, 2011, has received $30 million in funding from the Fund for Reconstruction of Haiti (FRH) and 19 million by the United Nations. This project’s main objectives are to ensure that:
- Internally Displaced Persons find a lasting solution to housing
- The return to neighborhoods is facilitated by a reconstruction that creates sustainable, quality housing
- Improved rehabilitation of the 16 districts of origin is carried out on the basis of the priorities of its communities
- The capacity of Haitian actors are strengthened and improved to allow for a similar reconstruction project to be implemented by Haitian actors in the future.
The project will also support the training of building professionals and the promotion of SMEs in the construction sector. Proper coordination and participation will be ensured by the creation of community platforms, and supported by a comprehensive communications strategy.
The stakeholders of this project are at three levels – national, municipal and local – On the one hand the involvement of local government and the CASEC / ASECS will be solicited, but mechanisms will be implemented to ensure that the reconstruction is first and foremost led by neighborhood committees and community leaders.
With this project, the IHRC seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of reconstruction in the interests of fairness and respect for the most vulnerable victims of the earthquake of January 12, 2010. The project will then be repeated after analysis of results and experiences in the camps and neighborhoods in order to reduce as quickly as possible the number of displaced persons and provide them with the dignity to which they are entitled.
For more info:
Mr. Pierre Manigat Junior
Communication Director
Interim Haiti Recovery Commission
pierre.manigat@cirh.ht
(509) 3711-1767
Mr. Denis Dufresne
denis.dufresne@cirh.ht
(509) 3702-8514
The Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) was created by presidential decree on April 21, 2010, in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. The mission of the IHRC is to undertake the expeditious planning, coordination, and facilitation of development projects and priorities, including reviewing and approving projects and programs funded by bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs and the private sector. The IHRC is co-chaired by Prime Minister of Haiti Jean-Max Bellerive and President Bill Clinton and is guided by a Board, which includes Haitian and non-Haitian stakeholders in reconstruction efforts.