After one year of coordination of the activities of all humanitarian partners working in the IDP of Corail Cesse-Lesse [7,500 people] located about 20 km north of Port-au-Prince on 25 hectares, the American Refugee Committee (ARC) has transferred on 15 May, the management of the camp to the town of Croix-des-Bouquets.

According to Bryan Castro of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), since December 2010, the camp population has remained stable, however, he expects an increase in this number in the coming months [up to 10,000] especially that by next July, "IOM will build 300 temporary shelters in Sector 3."

To ensure a smooth transition 15 municipal workers have received a training on "Human Rights" and "environmental protection", under the supervision of the NGO World Vision. On site, the security continues to be provided by officers of the Police Nationale d'Haiti (PNH), supported by UN peacekeepers, pending the construction of a substation, the Haitian police are housed in a wooden kiosk located in the camp, which is divided into 6 sectors.

The new municipal team plans to transform the camp Corail into communal section. For that, it was decided to prevent the uncontrolled construction on the site as is the case in neighboring camps, "Jerusalem" and "Canaan", where the lands are "invaded". "The only institution authorized to do constructions in Corail are IOM and World Vision," said Jean-Claude Pierre, team member of the City Council of Croix des Bouquets.

As part of this gradual transformation, several projects are already under consideration in this camp. In addition to a primary school and a vocational school already functional, a public market in sectors 3 and 4 is considered. Moreover, Jacques Bonil St-Louis from the ARC states that "Oxfam is working on a system of water supply, using a pumping system. It will be for people to manage it. Funds raised through the sale of water will allow the City Council, with the support from the National Center Equipment (CNE), to continue on-site collection of garbage, and provide fuel to teh water pump".

IDPs camp welcome this transformation and Jean Jacques Charles, head of sector 6 of the camp, said he relies on the City Council of Croix-des-Bouquets to make every effort to provide jobs, electricity and food to the camp population.

S/ HaitiLibre / Minustah