IOM this week helped a first wave of families move permanently from
the shelters and tents they have lived in for the past two years,
directly in front of Haiti's ruined National Palace.

In all, one hundred and seventy six families were relocated to
homes they have chosen, with each family receiving a year in
advance rental subsidy under a programme devised and led by the
government of Haiti and financed by Canada.

Historic Champ de Mars Plaza, in the heart of the capital
Port-au-Prince, has been home to a community of 4,600 desperately
poor families who have lived since the earthquake in miserable,
overcrowded conditions. Women in particular have been prone to
sexual and gender based violence (SGBV).

The aim of the relocation programme is to enable as many of
these earthquake displaced families as possible return to their
original communities, under a framework agreement developed by the
government of Haiti and the humanitarian community.

Some 126,000 families still remain in Haitian camps in
deteriorating conditions and it will be at least two to five years
before the neighbourhood regeneration approach has time to fully
rebuild the neighbourhoods of return.

"A week before carnival comes directly through Champ de Mars, it
is appropriate that these vulnerable families get an opportunity to
start their lives anew and that our work to take care of them
begins to take shape," said IOM Haiti Chief of Mission Luca
Dall'Oglio.

The devastating earthquake of January 2010 left over 1.5 million
people homeless and almost destroyed an already weak economy. It
contributed to both an individual and a collective sense of loss,
combined with guilt towards those who died, anxiety about the
future, frustration and anger.

Protection is a major issue for those living in flimsy shelters
and tents and Champ de Mars is a particular hot spot. IOM is
mainstreaming protection issues to ensure that everyone involved in
relocation, the displaced themselves, community leaders and those
coming into direct contact with the displaced are aware of the
seriousness of SGBV.

IOM has also provided psychosocial support for those living in
camps in Haiti, including Champ de Mars. Operating in very trying
circumstances, the mission's health team coordinates healthcare
solutions wherever possible.

IOM began the move by ensuring that the most vulnerable families
were prioritized and assisted in terms of their health needs. They
included pregnant women, those with children less than 5 years old,
the elderly, single heads of household, people living with
disabilities and chronic medical illness such as TB or HIV.

In one case, it included a 19-year-old paraplegic woman who has
lain on a mat in the camp for two years, dependent on her mother
for help.  Bettyna's bright smile and lively demeanour as she
was moved first to a wheelchair, to a bus and finally up to her new
apartment, belied the hardships she has endured and the chronic
pain she suffers constantly due to lack of medical attention.

The move from Champ de Mars is due to pick up tempo over the
coming months, while parallel efforts are underway to rebuild
quality housing and provide sustainable community and public health
facilities in people's neighbourhoods of origin. This is
particularly important in a country where unplanned slums have
developed, and which is especially vulnerable to natural disasters
like earthquake and flooding.

A unique part of the process involves engaging residents of
neighbourhoods to participate in the reconstruction efforts through
community platforms where plans are proposed and discussed. These
community-elected leaders will be encouraged to help with urban
planning and to identify rehabilitation priorities in ways that
guarantee community participation.

As part of the reconstruction process, small suppliers of
materials and construction services will also get support to make
them more competitive and ensure the community supports their
businesses. There will also be technical teams to assess damage to
houses and where possible repair them. Owners of irreparably
damaged houses will be helped to rebuild them, a move that will
help restore the housing stock for those leaving the camps.

The closure of the camps in Haiti is a priority of the
government and the entire humanitarian community. IOM has taken the
lead in identifying sustainable solutions to help families living
in camps to return to their priority areas of origin. IOM is also
collaborating with UNOPS, ILO and UNDP, along with local and
international humanitarian organizations, to rapidly respond to the
government's requests in its relocation and reconstruction
strategy.

For further information please contact:

Leonard Doyle

IOM Haiti

Tel: +509 3702 5066

E-mail: "mailto:ldoyle@iom.int">ldoyle@iom.int