In Leogane, which was the epicentre of the earthquake of the 12th of January 2010, 80% of the infrastructure has been destroyed forcing 55,000 people to find refuge in the refugee camps. Over 200 displaced households have been able to find decent housing and get out of the camps thanks to a project set up by ACTED. Three months after their relocation, ACTED teams visited the families to monitor the evolution of their living conditions.
Louise, a smiling woman of around forty years old is selling mangos when we arrived at her stand of food products. Her family is part of the 201 households that have benefitted from ACTED’s project in Leogane.
Louise responding to the ACTED team’s needs assessment questions. Before the earthquake on the 12th of January 2010, Louise rented a small two-bedroom flat in the centre of Leogane. “Thanks to God, we were outside when the earth shook”. The following days, Louise and her family did not have the choice but to sleep outside. She remembers having received 2 plastic sheets as well as some kitchen utensils and a hygiene kit. Like thousands of other inhabitants in the city, Louise’s family built a shelter in one of the many camps for displaced persons that were set up throughout the city. This temporary situation finally lasted three years.
The house in which Louise lives today has been rehabilitated by ACTED. In exchange for the rehabilitation work, the owner of the house accepted to host two more displaced families during two years.
A new life after relocation
Louise shares her house and the latrine that were built by ACTED with Marie-Bijou’s family, a woman of the same age as her who she met in the camp and with whom she immediately had a connection. When ACTED introduced the type of aid that was proposed to the displaced families, Louise immediately wanted to move into a rehabilitated house. Louise and Marie-Bijou then had the idea to find a house their two families could share. Louise now explains: “I was sure that everything would go well if both our families shared a house, and I was right!”
The project also included the distribution of 10,000 HTG (180 Euros) to the beneficiaries to support the families when they left the camp. Thanks to this money, Louise could reimburse her family’s debts that had been accumulated over the months. With the rest of this money, she opened a little food commerce that she has set up in front of her house. Louise is hoping that this activity will enable her to earn enough money to pay for her rent and continue to live in the house she feels well living in.