Haiti – The number of internally displaced Haitians (IDPs) living in camps at the end of October 2012, almost three years after the January 2010 earthquake, is now estimated at 357,785 – down 77 per cent from a peak of 1,536,477 registered in July 2010.

The latest IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) report, which covers the period up to 31st October 2012, shows that since the previous quarter, many IDP sites have closed as a result of return programmes implemented by the Government of Haiti, IOM and other partners. Some 496 sites remain.

The IOM Data Management Unit (DMU) which produces the DTM report, gathers, analyzes and disseminates critical information on camp populations, which in turn is used by the Government and humanitarian partners to plan and implement programmes. The report is the single largest source for overall data on populations in camps in Haiti.
 
Data gathering is carried out by field teams that do direct camp assessments, registrations and interviews with the community, and in cases where site visits are not possible due to time limitations or security restrictions, IOM uses aerial imagery as a means to update population estimates.

When aid efforts transitioned from emergency response to return and reconstruction, DTM activities adjusted accordingly with initiatives developed and put in place to gather data on the conditions within earthquake-affected neighbourhoods and the population within these areas.

“The DTM is an essential tool that provides information for reconstruction actors working to close camps and provide sustainable solutions for the displaced population. It is essential that it remains active and up to date and that it is transitioned to be implemented by the government in 2013. IOM is looking to its donors to secure a minimum of US$ 800,000 in funding to maintain the DTM in 2013,” says Gregoire Goodstein, IOM Chief of Mission in Haiti.

“Results from the latest DTM show that camps are closing as a direct result of return programmes led by the government and the humanitarian community. But the pace of closure is slowing down. It is important that we increase our momentum in providing solutions for displaced families who have now been living in camps for almost three years,” he notes.  
 
Meanwhile, cholera remains a considerable threat to the displaced population in the camps: Hurricane Sandy battered Haiti with devastating effects, immediately resulting in an increase in suspected cholera cases amongst camp populations.

The latest DTM report along with other DTM tools and products are available on the DTM website: www.iomhaitidataportal.info.

For more information, contact

Vlatko Avramovski
IOM Haiti
Email: vavramovski@iom.int