Summary of the Working Group “Champ du Mars”

Meeting Notes Documents:

• Meeting Notes 1

• Meeting Notes 2

• Meeting Notes 3

Nearly every day, a wider working group met in the temporary meeting facilities in the Presidential Palace. Their main objective was to think about a strategy, how to move people from “Champ du Mars” back home into their original living quarters. The first living quarter to start with is “Fort National”. Whatever strategy the group would thing about, is supposed to become the pilot for other camps in Port au Prince.
Participants in the group where:
President Preval, the Minister of Interior, Niels Scott-Head of OCHA, the Cluster Leads from CCCM, Emergency Shelter, Early Recovery, IOM, UNHABITAT, Community Leader from surrounding living quarters, Camp Leader from Champs du Mars, Donors like USAID, NGO´s like CRS.
Over all a well balanced group with the widest possible foundation possible for the purpose.
The working style shifted between discussions in the main forum and working groups on:
- Cash for Work Programs
- Debris Removal
- Information campaigns
- Data/ Targeting
The draft plan as it stands by the 17th of May is:
- A mapping exercise in the “ Fort National” to identify Owners, Renters, Plot boundary’s, Status of the houses ( in the three categories ( green=save, yellow= repair needed, red= most likely need to demolish)
- Information Campaign to make people move back to all green houses (About 70% of the green house are already occupied.)
- Information campaign about the overall strategy.
- Demolishing of red houses with professional staff
- Cash for work program for to remove debris from red houses
- T-Shelter programs for the red houses

The discussion is ongoing and additional finding and adjustment might be ahead
Find attached some additional information from today’s meeting!

The shelter cluster is looking a cluster member to implement T-Shelter in the “Fort National” Area.
Some members indicated their interest. (IOM, CHF and Concern Worldwide a general interest to work in the City of Port au Price area)

Fort National is a high populated area.
The plan to implement is well ahead.
For the “pilot project” a high media attention is guaranteed.
More, similar project will follow.