NATIONS UNIES UNITED NATIONS

BUREAU DE LA OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION COORDINATION DES AFFAIRES HUMANITAIRES OCHA-Geneva OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS

Date: 24 August 2004 Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2004/130

OCHA Situation Report No. 15 – Socio-Political Crisis 24 August 2004

General overview

1. Haiti remains vulnerable to economic and political instability and is poorly placed to respond adequately to any natural disaster. It will remain in the foreseeable future in, or on the verge of, humanitarian crisis. The humanitarian situation in Haiti remains complex, structural and multidimensional. Its chronic nature is not an excuse for non-action, but should rather trigger a well-structured humanitarian approach.

2. An estimated 1.2 million people depend on humanitarian food distribution, almost 15 % of the population. The emergency situation in Haiti has further deteriorated due to the recent political crisis, the chronic poverty and the alarming environmental degradation. The political transition process and its gradual restoration of public institutions and services do not create the conditions for the full and immediate attention to humanitarian issues yet.

3. Security remains the main concern of the newly deployed international force, MINUSTAH1, whose mandate is, inter alia, to ensure a secure and stable environment in the country, to assist in comprehensive and sustainable disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), and assist with the restoration and maintenance of the rule of the law, public safety and public order. Those conditions should facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance.

4. The progressive deployment of the 13-country strong stabilisation force2, mainly from Latin America3, is due to be completed by mid-September, which will permit the full implementation of activities of its 1,600 police (CIVPOL). The presence of military and police forces will facilitate access to many regions for the UN agencies and humanitarian partners, despite the appalling road conditions throughout the country, which increases the time of transport to bring relief support and limits large operations with no air transport capacity.

5. Various UN interagency assessment missions are sent to the field in order to follow the situation and identify potential crises and the presence of MINUSTAH sub-offices will help to identify local priorities. It is a first step to increase the UN presence outside the capital4, which has hampered the information flow from the field.

6. The humanitarian partners, such as the NGOs, are essential working partners, most knowledgeable of the field. Of 430 NGOs registered in the Ministry of Social Affairs, some 50 are active in the areas but only a few of them have a real capacity to address emergencies, as they are more development oriented5.

7. Many challenges are still on the road to peace and stabilisation. The disarmament of ex-soldiers is still under negotiation, bandits still operate across the country, while the Famille Lavalas Party has to accept an active role in the transition. They are still some sectors who do not entirely accept the Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF)6 process, which they claim has been driven by the international community.

1 Mission des Nations Unies pour la Stabilisation en Haïti / United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti 2 As of 9 August. Note that additional countries have shown interest in contributing to the UN force. 3 Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay and also Benin, Canada, Croatia, France, Nepal, Sri Lanka and USA. 4 In addition to the World Food Program’s presence in Cap Haitien and Bombardopolis. 5 With notable exceptions such as Médecins du Monde, Médecins Sans Frontière and ICRC and IFRC. 6 Cadre de Coopération Intérimaire (CCI)

Interim Cooperation Framework update

8. At the International Donors Conference on Haiti, 19-20 July, international organizations and governments pledged $1.085 billion7 towards Haiti’s recovery over the next two years for the ICF, surpassing the target of $924 million8. The ICF, prepared as a joint effort between the Haitian Interim Government and the international community, sets out priority needs and clear targets in over 16 sectors to bring Haiti through this transition period. Co-hosted by the European Commission, the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations and the World Bank, the Conference in Washington D.C. drew over 380 participants with representatives from 35 countries and 32 international organizations, 26 international NGOs, 23 organisations from the United Nations System and over 70 delegates from Haiti (from government, civil society, press and political parties). Speakers including the Prime Minister of Haiti, Gerard Latortue, U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powel; United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Juan Gabriel Valdés and World Bank President, James Wolfensohn; spoke in support of the ICF and strategy of the interim .

9. Information on the ICF, the new partnership with the international community, continues. Presented as a strategic document for the next two years, the ICF reflects a needs assessment for the stabilization and the reconstruction of Haiti. The process aims: 1) to assure a better governance and promote national dialogue; 2) to reinforce economical governance and contribute to institutional development; 3) to favour economic revival; and 4) to improve access to basic services.

10. The ICF was established and drafted in a short period. The meeting in Washington was a success, not only for the announced contribution of 1,085 billion US dollars, but equally by the wide participation, a symbol of the international community commitment to Haiti. 60% of the total contribution is made of donations, while the rest is made of loans. The ICF implementation will require additional coordination efforts between government and donor countries.

11. The next step is to set up the aid-coordination and implementation mechanisms for ICF. Towards this end, a follow-up meeting between the government and donors is planned for September 23 2004, in Port-au-Prince, preceded by a donor coordination meeting on the 22nd September. In the meantime, key areas urgently being addressed include: elections, security, electricity, waste management, education and job creation. Likewise, work is underway to finalise the interim government’s budget for the next fiscal year as well as to release and disburse the funds pledged on 20 July.

12. More information is available on the website http://haiticci.undg.org

Security situation

13. The overall climate is gradually stabilizing. A few isolated violent acts were reported throughout Haiti. Recent incidents include the killing of two police officers from the Haitian National Police (PNH) on 15 July and the death of a civilian working on UN generators in Gonaïves on 29 July. Random gunfire continues. The police (PNH) and CIVPOL Public supervised demonstrations in support of former President Aristide.

14. The ex-military continues to oppose disarmament unless the process applies first to other groups and factions (opposition, ex-Lavalas) and unless they get some compensation for demobilization. While they do not tend to be hostile to MINUSTAH, they have not indicated a willingness to work under the UN DDR process. Some are currently demanding back pay for the last 10 years.

15. Chimères and other armed groups with political links remain a threat to the Haitian population. It is assessed they will likely continue to avoid confrontation with MINUSTAH military elements but do represent a criminal threat to international civilians.

7 In total USD 1.4 billion (approximately USD 350 millions were pledged before the ICF). 8 This complements the funds already committed by donors, to meet the total needs assessed of $1.37 billion.

Human rights situation

16. is an important issue as chronic poverty and insecurity, either due to the absence of effective public security services, or the presence of armed groups, create an environment for widespread abuses. It is a matter of urgency to establish the rule of Law.

17. According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Haiti, the country suffers from three types of Human Rights violations: infringements resulting from the Judicial system dysfunctions (slow trials, excessive pre-trial detention periods, very poor prison conditions, etc); infringements resulting from abuse of power from representatives in charge of ensuring the protection of civil and political rights (abuses perpetrated by police and judiciary, such as torture, arbitrary imprisonment, etc); and finally infringements attributable to the absence of state authority in remote areas of the country, where impunity is a daily reality.

18. The OHCHR will monitor the human rights situation in next months throughout the country. MINUSTAH will deploy human rights officers who will be able to strengthen the human rights dimension at district level through training of competent national authorities. It will also follow up on human rights violations and inform the population on their rights.

19. The office works in close collaboration with the national NGOs and other partners of civil society.

Haiti and the Human Development Report9

20. The latest Human Development Report was presented in Haiti by the United Nations in July. The 2003 results place Haiti at the 153rd position of the HD index, out of 177. Haiti is still the poorest country in the Americas, and is ranked between Mauritania and Djibouti. Most indicators are alarming: life expectancy at birth is below the age of 50 years, 54% of the population still don’t have sustainable access to an improved water source10, and the part of population which is undernourished, though it has decreased, still amounts to 49% (65% in 1992). One striking element is the absence of many indicators in the latest report. Haiti appears to be a non-data land, with reliance on old figures. On example is the rate of children under weight for their age (under five) between 1995 and 2002 stands at 23 %, which seems to be an old figure, which does not represent reality today.

Natural disasters

- Early warning reports on drought in the North West

21. OCHA coordinated a rapid assessment to the North West following reports from the NGO CARE, based on their early warning system, that the current harvest, due in September, could fail in some areas of the North West. The team noted that coping mechanisms are exhausted and rural populations and most vulnerable groups have seen their meagre reserves reduced. This situation is exacerbated by widespread vulnerability, environmental degradation and insecurity. It is therefore important for the United Nations and humanitarian partners to monitor the agricultural season in the North West, particularly the rainfall in October-November the planting period for the main annual harvest. A full report of this assessment is available on www.reliefweb.int (16 July).

- Floods in the South East

22. Major floods hit the southeastern part of the country on 23-24 May, severely affecting Mapou and Fonds- Verrettes. According to governmental figures, some 1,261 persons died and 1,414 are missing. More than 31,000 were affected (i.e. required urgent assistance), according to the latest report of the Haitian Civil Protection11. This region is receiving support from the UN agencies and humanitarian organizations and is in the rehabilitation phase.

9 The Human Development Report is a UNDP publication available on www.undp.org/ 10 In comparison to a drought-prone country such as Eritrea (54%), or a current complex emergency such as Côte d’Ivoire (19%). 11 Dated 15 July. There is no recent report. 23. Recent reports12 from Mapou indicate that the situation is back to conditions ex-ante, described as the "chronic" crisis affecting most of this country.

24. OCHA feels that is it urgent that decisions be taken on the possible relocation of part or all of Fonds- Verrettes and allocate lands to those who require relocation in the Mapou area as well.

25. Main actors present in Mapou (IFRC, Dutch RC, MSF, LWF, OXFAM, CNSA, PADF, UNDP13) met on Friday 6th August to discuss residual needs for the affected areas, mainly Mapou. The present situation in Mapou is seen as one of transition, meaning that the critical phase is considered as finished and actions have been taken for the stabilization of the population and the reconstruction of infrastructures.

- Food

26. Food distribution programs aim now at the most vulnerable only, through distributions planned according to new lists being currently prepared by the Federation of the Red Cross. Some food-for-work initiatives have started too, with uneven success. OXFAM registered limited cases of chronic malnutrition. The RC is providing food for one month to 2,000 families, identified as “vulnerable”.

- Water and sanitation

27. Since the aftermath of the disaster, water and sanitation have been of particular concern, and gradually addressed. The major impact of the floods is the decrease in the capacity of storing rainwater, on which Mapou is very dependent. Oxfam and LWF are currently working on rehabilitation and reconstruction of water pipelines from nearby waterfalls (Pichon) or sources (Mambo) to reservoirs in the affected areas. These projects should provide water to approximately 2,000 families in the Mapou area by September. OXFAM is also providing latrines and the IFRC is providing kitchen sets and basic hygiene kits to 2,000 families in the area of Mapou. These distributions started on 7 August.

- Health sector

28. For the health sector, latest reports from WHO-PAHO inform that there is no current epidemiological risk. The Ministry of Public Health has fumigated the lake around Mapou. Five insecticide dispersions eliminated almost all mosquitos’ nests (called Bigay). Cuban doctors, present in the area in the framework of cooperation between the governments of Haiti and Cuba, do not report any serious infection, other that normal malaria (3% of consultation) and some skin infections. The recovery of bodies continues as they appear in the lake. MSF will leave Mapou at the end of the month, after reports that numbers of consultations and health indicators are back to the levels that could be expected before the emergency started. A health post staffed by two Cuban doctors will, for the time being, remain in Mapou.

- Residual needs

29. It will be necessary to monitor the food security situation closely, for it is clear that many families who have lost their fields or harvests in the floods will not actively participate in the next agricultural season. Their vulnerability will increase.

30. In the agriculture sector, there is still a need for seeds and tools. It is urgent to distribute before the next agricultural season. Any delay in providing this would have serious consequence on the next harvest. Also, there is a risk that untimely-distributed seeds might be used for food, which could become a health hazard.

- Resettlement

31. Permanent resettlement is one of the remaining tasks. In Mapou, where some 650 families were temporary relocated. Approximately 658 houses have been rehabilitated (temporary shelter) and 212 tents set up. It is now up to local authorities to identify a suitable place to relocate before the population starts building again in dangerous

12 From UNDP and WHO-PAHO 13 International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies, Dutch Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, Lutheran World Federation, Pan American Development Foundation, Centre National Sécurité Alimentaire and United Nations Development Program. areas. The IFRC is providing shelter rehabilitation in Mapou and Fond-Verrettes. The situation in the latter is more difficult due to the absence of funds and the need for a political decision to relocate. According to the Civil Protection Direction (DPC), the technical experts should provide an opinion before the end of the month, and based on that, the government will decide on the possible relocation.

32. Information on Fonds-Verrettes is lacking due to the non-permanent UN presence and limited NGO presence in the area, compared to Mapou. While it seems that the situation is back to “normal” (i.e. precarious), the main problem relates to the ongoing relocation issue. Moving people from at-risk areas is a slow process because of land tenure and access issues.

- Monitoring, assessment, coordination

33. The State Secretary for Environment and the Civil Protection Direction met with other partners in Jacmel on 17 August to plan adequate resettlement programs in the area.

34. IFRC sent a team to Mapou to assess the situation and local capacities to respond to future natural crisis. This team will see whether the Federation should seek further funding for items not covered in the previous two IFRC Appeals launched earlier this year (floods/Mid term).

35. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has promoted a group of local coordination in the area, under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture delegation in Thiotte, which will monitor the needs for the next agricultural season.

36. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) deployed a United Nations Volunteer to Mapou in June, to reinforce coordination and provide support to the local civil protection (KPSL). He will remain in the area until the end of the month. The DPC and local structure (KPSL, KOSOMA) will carry on with the coordination functions. The UNV recommends that high priority should be given to permanent relocation, psychological support, development of local sustainable activities (on infrastructures and environmental restoration), monitoring the health situation around the lake and increasing the presence of authorities.

37. Depending on the reports and ongoing assessments, OCHA is planning to organise a joint assessment mission to the area to make a final review of the situation and ongoing needs.

- Disaster Response preparedness

38. One 20 July, the Haitian National Weather Forecast Centre (CNM)14 announced the passage of a strong tropical wave on the southeastern part of the territory, with potential localised floods and landslides on the areas previously flooded on 23-24 May 2004. The rain mass threatened to become a cyclone within the next 36 hours, though it dissipated on 22 July at about 250 km of the Haitian coasts. Haiti only felt strong sustained winds, blowing in flurries, which caused some material damage. Immediately after the CNM’s alert (level 2 – yellow) on 21 July, OCHA and UNDP activated the contingency plan and worked closely with Haitian Civil Protection. The DPC informed the population through the regional delegations and local committees (KPSL).

39. The United Nations and its humanitarian partners were involved at an early stage to establish a potential assessment team and the availability of logistics. The MINUSTAH military component was ready to provide logistical support, including helicopters, for any recognition mission. The UN Joint Logistic Center (UNJLC) was closely associated for logistics coordination.

40. The response preparedness in this scenario helped activating the contingency plan and underlined the necessity to associate all partners in . A similar pre-alert scenario was activated during the hurricane Charley and tropical storm Bonnie (11 August) alerts.

14 Centre National de Météorologie (CNM)

Humanitarian developments

- Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons

41. Haiti does not present the frequent symptom of humanitarian crisis, large groups of IDPs. However, a number of concerned groups suggest that considerable numbers of individual have become displaced from their usual place of residence as a result of or fear of politically motivated violence.

42. A recent report from Refugees International (also available on www.reliefweb.int) brings up the case of forced international displacement of politically active members of Haitian society. The question of asylum is an issue as many families, who moved to Dominican Republic in the past years, do not received any legal protection, as they are not granted asylum.

43. The question of internally displaced persons is also of concern. The absence of official figures on IDPs does not imply that the phenomenon does not exist. In fact, another recent report from the Haitian NGO Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH)15 claims that there is a continued presence of large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDP) in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere. These persons fled political violence and insecurity in their communities of origin before, during, and after the departure of the elected government in late February. Some IDPs were victims of human rights violations themselves or had family members who were victims; others were forced to leave because of targeted or generalized threats of political persecution. According to the IJDH, IDPs originate from various regions of the country, namely the North, the Artibonite and the Central Plateau (Saint Marc, Gonaives, Cap Haitien, Hinche, Mirebalais, Maissade, Beladere, Thomassique) and the South (Petit Goave, Jeremie, Les Cayes, and Saint Louis du Sud). Many IDPs are living in Port-au-Prince but others discretely remain in rural areas.

44. Still unrecognised by national or international institutions, it confirmed the IDP population is socially, economically, and physically vulnerable. IDPs report sleeping in a different location every night and being separated for several months from their partners and children. Effects of displacement include loss of means of economic survival, lack of food security, and inability to pay school tuition for children. Physical deprivation, social dislocation and emotional stress make IDPs especially susceptible to illness. Those who become sick are unable to afford medical care. Very few IDPs have received any material or protective assistance.

45. It is so far difficult to corroborate these facts as many IDPs still hide. OCHA will monitor situation and suggest remedies as information becomes available.

- United Nations and NGOs activities by sector

- Agriculture

46. In response to the recent floods, Christian Aid developed an emergency program, in collaboration with the GARR16, to ensure seed and agricultural tools distribution and school tools in the region of Verrettes and Anse à Pitre.

47. According to Agro Action Allemande (AAA), the food security situation in the northwest area remains stable. Indicators (climatic conditions, market prices, etc…) do not foretell any serious food crisis in the forthcoming months but close monitoring is essential (cf. OCHA Situation Report on the drought in the North West). In preparation of the next agricultural season (October – December for corn, bean, pea and sorgho), several partners are distributing seeds and tools (AAA, FAO). Also, distribution of dry food (Christian Aid) and program of Food For Work (42 kilos of food/family/month) will benefit some 1,000 vulnerable families (AAA/WFP).

15 The Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti is a non-profit organization whose mission is to work with the people of Haiti in their non-violent struggle for the return and consolidation of constitutional democracy, justice and human rights. IJDH distributes information on human rights conditions in Haiti, cooperates with human rights and solidarity groups in Haiti and abroad, and pursues legal cases in Haiti and in international courts. For more information, see www.ijdh.org.

16 Groupe d’Appui aux Rapatriés et Réfugiés

- Food security

48. The World Food Program identifies in its last Situation Report as a major challenge to secure sufficient support from donors to carry out on-going and future programmes in Haiti, as the emergency operations programme shortfall stands at 49.5% (of the USD 7.9 million required), despite funds provided by France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland and USA. Any disaster in this cyclonic period might exhaust the scarce available resources.

- Health

49. Noting a lack of data on epidemiology trends, the World Health Organisation (WHO/PAHO) is setting up an epidemiologist-monitoring programme called “Sentinelle”, that will facilitate early action and control of epidemic out-breaks.

50. Medecins du Monde is providing assistance to victims of violence in Port-au-Prince (September 2003- August 2005). This program is based on CIRREV (Centre for Intervention, Rehabilitation, Research and Expertise for the persons victims of violence). It aims at training personnel from health structures and supporting the juridical acknowledgement of acts of violence by the promotion of forensic science.

- Education

51. Save the Children-Canada is planning to distribute school equipment to prepare the end of year examinations for 6,000 children.

- Capacity building

52. The French Red Cross in Haiti currently undertakes 4 projects in cooperation with the Haitian Red Cross, notably an ECHO-funded project supporting the Haitian Red Cross ambulance service, a management project for natural disaster prevention (Low Artibonite and Low Central Plateau); a house construction project for 200 families in the Mapou area, as well as sanitary and social development of the youth in the Low Central Plateau.

- Assessment missions

53. Central Plateau (Hinches region) is a rural area, structurally poor and isolated, where erosion is threatening. A recent mission to Hinches by the French NGO ACTED outlined most pressing needs, among which is the rehabilitation of the road and rural tracks serving the production zones, improvement of water purification system, the protection of soil, and the support to local agricultural organizations as well as medical and educational services.

54. On Friday 13 August, the United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Adama Guindo, and representatives of MINUSTAH civil affairs, political affairs, police (CIVPOL), security and OCHA (representing the forthcoming humanitarian pillar), visited Jeremie (8 hours by road from Port-au-Prince, 5 hours from Les Cayes) and met with representatives of the Church and civilian authorities. The area has not seen significant international presence in recent times and there is a lack of reliable figures on the humanitarian situation. Not only this is due to poor infrastructure and access to Jeremie, but also the limited presence of international agencies does not facilitate the information flow. Currently, only CARE and Médecins du Monde (MDM) are present, while Catholic Relief Services (CRS) operates from Les Cayes. Since 11 August, the CIVPOL has been deployed in the area, and should reach the total of 37 policemen within a few weeks.

55. In order to assess the humanitarian situation, an interagency mission will soon visit the area to identify most pressing needs.

MINUSTAH

- Current deployment

LOCATION CONTINGENT TOTAL FORT LES CAP PAP HINCHE GONAIVES LIBERTY CAYES HAITIEN BRAZILIAN BRIGADE HQ 23 - --- 23 ADMINISTRATIVE BASE 171 - - - - 171 BRAZILIAN BN ARMY 730 - - 39 - 769 BRAZILIAN BN MARINE 235 - - - - 235 CHILE BN - 77 278 - - 355 CHILIEN AVIATION UNIT 93 - --- 93

CANADIAN BN 50 - - 50 - -

URUGUAY (Transit camp in PAP) 501 70 - - - 571 -

ARGENTINA BN 48 - - 406 454 - ARGENTINA (LEVEL II Hospital) 26 - - - - 26 TOTAL 1877 77 70 278 39 406 2747

The third phase of the deployment will see some 6,700 military. The total deployment will also count some 1,620 police and 1,201 civilians.

56. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 E-mail: [email protected] 34 In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers: Mr. Erik Haegglund Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3299 Press contact: (GVA) Ms. Elisabeth Byrs direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 (N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker direct Tel. +1-917-367 51 26