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 "paragraph-link-no-underline" href=
"/jahia/webdav/shared/shared/mainsite/media/docs/reports/dr20071130.pdf"
target="_blank" title="">IOM Website

For more information please contact:

Niurka Piñeiro

IOM Washington

Tel: +(1) 202-862-1826

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