Earthquake Response Haiti 2010-2015

Haiti Sindhupalchok District, Nepal

Earthquake Response Rehabilitation of Public Schools 2010 –2015

Haiti Earthquake Response 2010 –2015

The 2010 earthquake has caused human tragedy and vast destruction in Haiti. After immediate life-saving activities, reconstruction of houses and infrastructures was among the biggest priorities in the affected zones.

With an overall investment of 31.5 million Swiss Francs, Caritas Switzerland engaged in all three of these activity areas. After five years of supporting the most vulnerable people to recover from the shock, the projects are now completed and have reached a total of over 100’000 beneficiaries directly.

Area profile All projects were implemented in the department Ouest, situated close to the epicenter of the quake, and ­Artibonite.

Partnerships Implementation took place in cooperation with the diocese of Port-au-Prince, Caritas Port-au-Prince, the Office for Education of the diocese, local authorities and local partner and community-based organizations. Caritas Switzerland worked with the financial support of the Caritas Network, Swiss S ­ olidarity and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation­.

Context Caritas Switzerland has been active in development cooperation in Haiti for over 30 years and therefore has extensive knowledge of the local context. Immediately after the earthquake of January 12, 2010, this presence enabled Caritas Switzerland to respond without delay to the disaster. Additionally, the Humanitarian Aid Department sent a delegation to Haiti to complement the existing programmes with expertise in emergency response and rehabilitation.

Emergency Relief Schools Housing

Gonaïves

CARIBBEAN SEA

HAITI Petit Boucan Bolosse Gressier PORT-AU-PRINCE

Darbonne Delatte

Chauffard

Cabaret Epicenter of the earthquake

50 km

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Destruction in Port-au-Prince.

Distribution of emergency relief items.

Construction of a house in Cabaret, Léogâne.

Construction site in Cabaret, Léogâne.

Cholera Prevention activities in schools.

Emergency Aid and Cholera Prevention Caritas Switzerland responded to the disaster by providing emergency shelters (tents), tools, and items for daily use, such as kitchen sets for 8’820 families. 30 schools received school tents so that classes could be held again. Soup kitchens provided one hot meal a day to 4’000 families for nearly six months.

In the wake of the cholera outbreak in October 2010, Caritas Switzerland organized prevention and mitigation measures in 80 schools and eleven health centres for 15’000 families. Access to safe drinking water was provided and 7’000 hygiene sets were distributed.

School and Housing Reconstruction Housing Caritas Switzerland reconstructed 608 private houses over the course of five years. In a pilot phase, appropriateness and suitability of the designs were tested in Petit Boucan (Gressier), where 100 houses were built. Adaptations were then made for a second phase in Cabaret (Léogâne), where an additional 508 houses were constructed. The project was community-driven, with residents, local leaders and authorities, beneficiaries and community-based organizations being included throughout

Private latrine in Cabaret, Léogâne.

the entire process. Not only did the beneficiaries support the beneficiary selection process and gave valuable feedback, but also they actively participated by providing materials, excavating trenches and deciding on essential features of their new houses.

The construction technique is based on a core house system. A core unit of one, two or three rooms, depending on family-size, was built in an earthquake resistant manner, whereas the veranda was built in a lighter structure. This allows the residents to upgrade the houses according to changing family size and composition or according to their preferences. In order for residents to take best care of the new houses, every household participated in operation and maintenance trainings.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Every house contains a toilet and a rainwater catchment system from the roof, including a tank for water storage. Further, on the community level, two water source catchments and two boreholes and pumps provide additional water sources. Water filters were distributed for purifying water at the household level. Relevant specific training supported all these measures.

Knowledge and practice were fostered with numerous awareness raising and door-to-door campaigns, as well as activities in schools.

Inhabited home built by Caritas Switzerland in Cabaret, LÊogâne.

Schools Caritas Switzerland constructed five schools with a total of 62 classrooms, with a capacity for 2'500 students.

In order to ensure a safe and child-friendly learning environment, the schools contain more than just classrooms. There are also libraries, computer-rooms, administration and teachers’ rooms as well as a refectory. The outside areas provide space for the children to play basketball and other games, do rope skipping and sit in the shade. Local producers provided furniture such as tables, chairs, blackboards and closets.

Besides construction works, the project also included a range of other activities. Although the buildings meet their purpose with minimal maintenance, school direction and staff were properly instructed in operation and maintenance of the building and its management.

The development department of Caritas Switzerland continues to work with the schools in order to improve school management and development of curricula.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) WASH is always an essential component of emergency and rehabilitation projects of Caritas Switzerland, including both infrastructure as well as hygiene knowledge and behaviour components. In all schools, modern sanitary installations were built, with either rainwater or source catchment systems. Purified drinking water is freely available for students and the local population from water kiosks inside the schools. Gender-separated toilets were built in all the schools, with at least one being accessible by wheelchair.

Sight inside a house reconstructed by Caritas Switzerland.

Approach Technique and tradition Houses as well as schools fulfil international standards of quality and earthquake safety as well as relevant disaster risk reduction measures in order to reduce impact of natural hazards in the future. Through close exchange with the community and the conformity with construction guidelines published by the Haitian government, houses and schools respect local and cultural building customs.

Employment and vocational training Particularly in the reconstruction projects, Caritas was an important employer. This opened opportunities for vocational training, in theoretical knowledge and on-the-job, thus contributing considerably to the economic development of the communities. 495 construction workers were hired over the construction period, trained in earthquake-safe construction techniques and received a certificate upon completion of training.

Another 300 unskilled workers were also hired, all of them being offered the opportunity to participate in specific trainings.

Continuous presence and follow-up With the emergency assistance and rehabilitation projects completed, the geographical Department Africa, Latin America & Caribbean continues its work in development cooperation in the fields of education, disaster risk reduction and resilience, income generation and food security.

Schoolyard in St.Vincent de Paul, Gressier.

School building, yard and refectory in St.Thérèse, Darbonne.

There are improved water taps in all schools.

Children studying in a classwoom with furniture provided by Caritas Switzerland.

Class taking place in Immaculée Conception, Chauffard.

Basic Data Programme Data Presence of Humanitarian Aid Dpt

2010 –2015

Beneficiaries Number of direct beneficiaries

• D istribution of emergency shelter, tools and kitchen sets: 8’820 Households (44’100 people) • C holera prevention and mitigation: 15’000 families (45’000 people) • F ood distributions: 4’000 families (20’000 people) over a period of almost 6 months • Housing: 3’040 people • Vocational training component: 495 people • T emporary schools: 6’000 students • Permanent schools: 2’500 students

Financial volume Total financial volume

31.5 Million Swiss Francs • Emergency aid and cholera mitigation: 7 Mio • Reconstruction housing: 13.2 Mio • Reconstruction schools: 11.3 Mio

Scope of housing reconstruction project Number of houses

• 608 houses

(including latrines and rainwater

• 608 latrines

catchment system)

• 608 water catchment systems

Community infrastructure

• 2 source catchment systems • 2 water pumps • 1 community center (6 rooms) • 1 retaining wall • 1 leisure area (incl. playground and basketball court) • 1 storage for reforestation organization • 6 latrines for 2 schools

Scope of school reconstruction project Number of schools

5 school buildings

• Anne-Marie Javouhey, Bolosse • Immaculée Conception, Chauffard • Ste. Thérèse, Darbonne • St. Martin, Delatte • St. Vincent de Paul, Gressier Number of classrooms

62

Water supply systems

5

Number of students

2’500

Photos: Caritas Switzerland; Edition: April 2016

Funded by:

Doing the right thing

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