In its last situation report, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (ONHA) indicates that displaced families temporarily sheltered in schools have come under increased pressure by local authorities to vacate the premises to allow for the resumption of schooling. Two schools were emptied in Les Cayes.

Recalling that Hurricane Matthew has displaced an estimated 175,509 people, most of whom are now living in some 307 temporary shelters, including 86 schools. Education has been disrupted as a result. UNICEF estimates 150,000 children are out of school either because they are displaced themselves or because their schools have been destroyed, damaged, or are occupied by other displaced families.

This week, both students and their parents have increasingly voiced their anger that children, whose schools are used for shelter, might fall behind or even lose an academic year. Demonstrations took place in Les Cayes and Jérémie. In addition, some schools had been scheduled to be used as polling stations for the upcoming 20 November elections, putting pressure on authorities to accelerate returns. Local authorities in Les Cayes took steps to start emptying three schools. Reports of evictions in other towns could not be confirmed.

In order to remedy this situation, humanitarian partners have agreed that, where feasible, assistance should be distributed in areas and communities of return rather than at the temporary shelters.

Furthermore, according to IOM figures on the shelters and displacements assessed so far, an estimated 78% of the displaced people owned their home while 22% were tenants before they were affected by the hurricane. Some 52% of the people stated that their homes were entirely destroyed, 38% severed damaged, and 9% somewhat damaged.

HL/ HaitiLibre