IOM is launching a new comprehensive environmental health and
sanitation strategy to monitor and tackle the challenging
conditions faced by hundreds of thousands of Haitians displaced by
the January 12 earthquake.

Over the coming weeks, IOM's environmental health and sanitation
unit (EH/WASH) will train residents in 15 camps to report on
crucial health issues such as water, sanitation and hygiene
issues.

 

The teams will also focus on vector control – fighting
mosquitoes in order to prevent malaria and dengue fever – as
well as environmental hazards, especially flood risks, ahead of the
rainy season.

Dr. Felix Diesner, IOM's Project Manager said: "Adequate
sanitation, water and hygiene are not only basic human needs, but
also the best option we have to prevent disease outbreaks."

"The environmental conditions we live in affect us deeply; the
air we breathe, the soil we walk on, the presence of trash. Imagine
being forced to live in a camp, with people you might not know and
where every moment is a challenge. You might start to think that
simple disciplines like hand washing are trivial, but they are more
crucial than ever for maintaining health."

 

IOM's EH/WASH team, funded by the Swedish International Development
Corporation Agency (Sida) assisted US marines (Tiger Team) during a
recent flood risk assessment in 21 sites, advising on strategies to
mitigate possible flash flooding.

"We must figure out the best way to address the potential for
flooding – whether we drain canals, move people to higher
ground by elevating the tents, or relocate them to other places,"
said Christian Poteau, IOM's national EH/Wash Engineer. "If nothing
is done, the most vulnerable could lose their life in a second as a
result of mudslides or rain. Making an assessment will guide us in
making better decisions."

The unit's primary focus is a real-time monitoring system, to
track the sanitary situation in displacement sites and to detect
immediate and structural challenges.

 

IOM is working closely with the Haitian government, many UN and NGO
partners and camp populations in order to establish that
system.

 

"Good information leads to good decision making," says Dr. Diesner,
who says the monitoring system will promote sanitation, hygiene,
more effective solid waste management and ‘vector control',
addressing potential disease carriers such as mosquitoes.

 

A "Rapid Response Team" led by engineers will address emergencies
through activities involving the camp populations.

IOM will also launch a series of hygiene education exercises,
including the use of dancers, theatre groups and posters, in order
to promote healthier living.

 

"The challenges we face in Haiti are difficult because of their
sheer quantity and their many causes, but everything we do today is
the basis for a better life tomorrow. That's our motivator, and
it's a strong one," says Dr. Diesner.

For more information, please contact:

Mark Turner

IOM Port-au-Prince

Tel. +509 3702 5066

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

or

Bertrand Martin

Tel.+509 3859 8619

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