IOM Haiti - Situation Report - No

This initiative is IOM Haiti - Situation Report - No. 11 Funded by:

Repatriation of Haitian Migrants from the Bahamas 21 JULY 2020

CONTEXT  Bahamian authorities have resumed repatriations of Haitian migrants as of 10 October after months of halting such proceedings.  These repatriations come weeks after the authorities have announced their intention to deport all irregular/ undocumented migrants from their territory.  A total of 14 repatriations have been carried out from 10 October 2019 to 21 July 2020.  Repatriations from the Bahamas have been carried out by air so far with 11 in Port-au-Prince (Ouest department) and 3 in Cap-Haitien (North department).  Deportations are expected to continue as Bahamian authorities intend to deport all irregular migrants from their territory.  IOM has supported the Office of National Migration (ONM in French) in 12 of the 14 (repatriations with providing post arrival support to migrants such as onward transportation fees and NFI kits.

CUMMULATIVE HIGHLIGHTS DEMOGRAPHICS OF REPATRIATED MIGRANTS

 A total of 1,081 Haitian migrants were repatriated from the Ba- hamas as of 24 December 2019.  25% of the migrants were women, while 75% migrants were men.  32 children (15 boys and 17 girls) were repatriated. 5 boys and 4 adolescent girl were unaccompanied and 5 were re- ferred to the relevant institutions (IBESR) upon arrival.  Many vulnerabilities were assessed during the proceedings such as individuals with chronic illnesses, mental disability, el- derly persons, pregnant and breastfeeding women. MEN 75% WOMEN 25%  The majority of the persons repatriated indicated being mainly from the Northern part of Haiti. REPATRIATIONS FROM THE BAHAMAS  Majority of the persons interviewed have indicated being evac- uees of hurricane Dorian and former residents of the island of Date Women Men Total Girls Boys Abaco, Nassau, and New Providence, in the Bahamas. 10-Oct-19 21 91 112 - -  Returnees have stated being mistreated (verbal, physical, and 26-Oct-19 6 5 11 - - sexual violence) by immigration authorities during the pro- 5-Nov-19 33 72 105 1 1 ceedings. IOM Haiti has informed OHCHR, IOM Bahamas and 8-Nov-19 1 5 6 - 1 Bahamian authorities for verification of these cases and ac- 9-Nov-19 1 8 9 - - tions to protect migrants’ rights. 14-Nov-19 15 97 112 3 1  Some migrants have indicated that they have been fined by a 21-Nov-19 30 82 112 - 1 judge anywhere from 150 USD to 3,000 USD after being arrest- 5-Dec-19 22 90 112 2 4 ed and charged for illegal landing or face prison time. 12-Dec-19 29 83 112 5 3  Many migrants have indicated that a pocket of blood was tak- 24-Dec-19 30 76 106 - 1 en from them by Bahamian authorities without their consent. 17-Jan-20 29 84 113 1 1  IOM supported ONM with post arrival assistance by contrib- uting to onward transportation fees and hygiene kits to 05-Fev-20 33 79 112 2 1 migrants. 13-July-20 7 27 34 - - 21-July-20 13 12 25 3 1 TOTAL 270 811 1,081 17 13 1

IOM Haiti, Rue E Pierre, No. 11, Zone Ambassade des Etats-Unis, Tabarre 27, Port-au-Prince, Haiti | For more information, please contact: [email protected] This initiative is IOM Haiti - Situation Report - No. 11 Funded by:

Repatriation of Haitian Migrants from the Bahamas 21 JULY 2020

DESTINATION OF REPATRIATED MIGRANTS IN HAITI

HIGHLIGHTS - 21 JULY 2020  25 Haitian migrants were repatriated via a charter plane to Port-au-Prince.  13 of the returnees were female: 10 adults and 3 adolescent girls. 12 of the returnees were male: 11 men and 1 adolescent boy.  Two of the adolescent girls and the adolescent boy were unaccompanied children.  The persons repatriated have indicated the Northern part of Haiti as their destination. Specifically, 56% will be returning to the Nord-Ouest department, 20% to Nord and 4% will return to Artibonite and Grande’Anse respective- ly.  Returnees indicated being apprehended at sea on 16 July 2020.  Returnees have indicated having spent between 3 and 4 days detention prior to being repatriated.  All returnees have stated that they were not mistreated by authorities.  IOM supported ONM with post arrival assistance by providing multipurpose cash grants to migrants, food and wa- ter. Leaflets on available psychosocial support (toll free number 840) were also given to the returning migrants.

IOM Haiti, Rue E Pierre, No. 11, Zone Ambassade des Etats-Unis, Tabarre 27, Port-au-Prince, Haiti | For more information, please contact: [email protected]