The authorities of Croix-des-Bouquets announced that there was no more IDPs in the town of Croix-des-Bouquets. The 26 camps were closed and each family was relocated to its place of origin or elsewhere in a home of their choice. This relocation has affected 8,000 people including 1,050 children under five years and 268 vulnerable.

Everything started in February by the registration of families to end in August with their relocation to their new surroundings. This was followed by the identification of needs, the identification and inspection of new homes.

As accompanying measures, each family received as part of the project implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the sum of 26,000 gourdes, to pay one year rent, arrange transportation and a sum of money to undertake income-generating activities. The most vulnerable people, supported by HelpAge in another project, received 41,000 gourdes each according to their needs.

David Preux, the Representative of IOM ensures that the operation was conducted with the utmost respect for humanitarian principles. "Beneficiaries freely left the camps and returned to their home or a home that they themselves have chosen," and announced that the closure of the camps will continue in other cities, including Port-au-Prince, Delmas, Petionville and Tabarre.

HL/ HaitiLibre