Action by Churches Together (ACT) Appeal - Haiti - Repatriation from Dominican Republic - LAHT92 Appeal Target : US$ 147,031 Geneva, 25 November, 1999
At least 500,000 Haitians and people of Haitian descent are thought to live in the Dominican Republic. Historically, there have been periods of mass expulsions in response to domestic political agendas, when people who may have lived in the Dominican Republic for long periods, or were born there and never set foot in Haiti before, are forcibly returned to Haiti. They are given no chance to collect their belongings, families are separated, and once in Haiti they frequently have nowhere to go. Such a situation places an enormous strain on a country which has few resources to cope with its own serious socio-economic problems. Since the beginning of November 1999, mass expulsions have resumed once again. The Support Group for Refugees and Repatriated People (GARR) estimates that up to 5,000 people have been rounded up and forced back over the border since the beginning of the month, a figure which is likely to reach up to 15,000 by the end of November. The ONM reports that 2,500 people were repatriated at one northern border crossing alone over the period 8-12 November. 100-250 people are said to be arriving daily at various parts of the South Eastern frontier. GARR proposes establishing or strengthening eight reception areas along the border with the Dominican Republic and equipping them to deal with the immediate needs of the repatriated. Please kindly send your contributions to the ACT bank account. For further information, please contact: ACT Co-ordinator, Miriam Lutz (phone 41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Appeals Officer, Elsa Moreno (phone +41 22 791 6031) ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org Ms. Genevieve Jacques Miriam Lutz Rev. Rudolf Hinz Director ACT Coordinator Director WCC/Cluster on Relations LWF/World Service REQUESTING ACT MEMBER Christian Aid (CA) DESCRIPTION OF REQUESTING ACT MEMBER & IMPLEMENTING AGENCY Description of ACT Member Christian Aid is the official agency of 40 sponsoring churches representing most denominations in the UK and Ireland. It began by helping refugees in Europe after the Second World War, and now works in about 60 countries where the need is greatest, helping people regardless of race or religion. Christian Aid believes local people are best placed to solve local problems. For this reason, it works through 700 local organisations, providing funds for projects. It has substantial experience of development, emergency and advocacy work. In 1998/1999, it spent approximately $17,000,000 on emergency programmes throughout the world. Description of Implementing Partners Christian Aid's implementing partner for this appeal is GARR (the Support Group for Refugees and Repatriated People), a Haitian organisation mandated by a group of 7 NGOs. GARR was initially set up in 1991 to respond to a wave of mass repatriations of migrant workers from the Dominican Republic that year, but closed in 1994 when the emergency work was over. It was re-opened in 1997 when another similar expulsion occurred. In 1998, it started a new programme aimed at preparing a more systematic response to this recurring problem, starting to organise community-based committees to receive Haitians forcibly repatriated across the border and working on three levels: reception (registration and emergency support); reinsertion into Haitian communities; advocacy. Christian Aid has been collaborating with GARR on this programme for the past year. GARR will take advantage of its relations with the National Migration Office (ONM) to implement this project, as the latter has virtually no funds of its own. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION Background At least 500,000 Haitians and people of Haitian descent are thought to live in the Dominican Republic (out of a total population of approximately 7.5 million). Historically, there have been periods of mass expulsions, most recently in 1991 and 1997, when, in response to a domestic political agenda, tens of thousands of people were forcibly returned to Haiti without regard to basic rights and in violation of international law. Since then, periodic expulsions have continued to occur but not on such a massive scale. The people affected include many who have lived in the Dominican Republic for long periods, and others who were born in the DR (and therefore entitled to Dominican citizenship) and who have never set foot in Haiti. They are given no chance to collect their belongings, families are separated, and once in Haiti they frequently have nowhere to go. Such a situation places an enormous strain on a country which has few resources to cope with its own serious socio-economic problems. Current Situation Since the beginning of November 1999, mass expulsions have resumed once again. GARR estimates that up to 5,000 people have been rounded up and forced back over the border since the beginning of the month, a figure which is likely to reach up to 15,000 by the end of November. The ONM reports that 2500 people were repatriated at one northern border crossing alone over the period 8-12 November. 100-250 people are said to be arriving daily at various parts of the South Eastern frontier. People are being rounded up in the DR in public places or their place of work on the basis of their physical appearance, regardless of whether they are legal residents or not. They are then transported over the border by the military, where they are left to fend for themselves and where they generally know no one. Among those repatriated are women, children and old people, some of whom need medical attention. GARR reports that prior to being sent back over the border, many spend 2 nights to a week in prison, sometimes without food or washing facilities. In most cases, they cannot send word to their families. Many seek to return to their place of origin - which can be a long distance from the point where they are left on the border - and where they face difficulties in finding housing, food and means of survival. Among the most vulnerable are those who left Haiti many years ago or who are Dominican-born. They need particular help to return to their homes or to find an alternative place to live. This latest situation occurs in the build up to presidential elections in the Dominican Republic, scheduled for next year. The socio-economic conditions in that country are becoming more difficult for the majority of the people: a general strike was called to protest at fuel price rises in October. A critical report by the Inter-American Human Rights Commission which calls for Haitian workers in the country to be given residency seems to have provided the pretext for the latest clamp-down on the immigrant community. Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian appearance are being turned into scape-goats for the country's other problems. The Haitian government has launched an official protest at this situation which has not yet been heeded by the authorities in the neighbouring country. Impact on Human Lives So far, no loss of life has been reported, but the people affected are facing dire conditions. Their immediate needs are for food, temporary shelter, basic hygiene, medical attention and money to enable them to reach their intended destination. Description of Damage The damage is above all economic (disruption of livelihoods), social (separation of families) and psychological. Registration of the returnees will permit records to be established of people's losses and personal situation. Location for Proposed Response This emergency programme will be carried out at least 8 points on the Haitian side of the border with the Dominican Republic, notably Anse-a-Pitre, Marigot and Thiotte (South East department), Malpasse/Fonds Parisien (West department), Belladere and Thomassique (Plateau Central), Mont Organise and Ouanaminthe (North East department). Current Security Situation The deportations are being carried out by the Dominican army, which is currently reinforcing its contingent along the border. There are some unconfirmed reports of ill-treatment of the people being deported. Haiti itself has no army, but is posting extra police to the border in order to help cope with the wave of deportees. Communications with the areas in question are difficult. Only Fonds Parisien/Malpasse is easily accessible from Port-au-Prince and telephone contact is impossible. GARR currently has no radio communications system. APPEAL GOAL Stated Project Goal and Objectives To establish or strengthen reception areas at 8 points along the border with the Dominican Republic and to equip them so that they can document each case, provide emergency medical attention and food, pay for transport home for the most destitute, and find shelter and means of making a living for those without a place to go. To provide training for project staff and 9 community-based committees in disaster preparedness and disaster management to prepare them for any similar situations in the future. BENEFICIARY INFORMATION AND TARGETED AREAS Number and Type Of Targeted Beneficiaries Documentation and food - 10,000 Transport - 5,000 Medical attention - 2,000 Shelter - 2,000 Disaster preparedness training - 8 employees and 9 committees (approx 100 people) The beneficiaries are likely to be men, women and children of all ages, generally lacking even the most basic means of survival. The committees are already existing structures (still relatively weak and in need of outside support), composed of members of border communities who have an interest in organising around the repatriation issue. Criteria To Be Used In Beneficiary Selection All cases are expected to be documented, and to receive a hot meal. Medical attention will be given to pregnant women, children, elderly people and the sick. Transport will be paid for those without any resources at all, and shelter will be found for those who have no friends or relatives to accommodate them. DESCRIPTION OF TARGETED ASSISTANCE Description of Assistance The proposed assistance consists of the following items: Food for meals for 2 days per person Basic sanitation (water, lighting, latrines) Shelter (sheets, mattresses, etc.) Clothing Transport to place of origin Medical care Resettlement fund for those unable to return to a home in Haiti, to be managed by GARR Training in disaster preparedness and management Implementation Description Per Activity A certain quantity of goods already exists through local structures. These include: small stocks of clothing and food donated by the local communities (including donations from the Dominican side of the border at Padernales) as well as accommodation offered by individuals and in schools, churches etc. GARR has a vehicle and 4 staff members whose salaries (but not per diems) are already covered ONM, which has small stocks of basic materials and a small personnel Nonetheless, the following overheads are necessary in order to implement the project hire of an additional vehicle for 20 days 2 additional staff members for one month per diems for all staff radio contact with the committees operating in each area (10 posts) It is anticipated that all goods can be obtained locally. Transition From Emergency GARR has a semi-permanent structure, based around support for the local reception and advocacy committees. This support will continue, funded amongst others by Christian Aid. GARR will continue to collaborate with the ONM which has staff but a very limited operating budget. While most of the beneficiaries are expected to be re-absorbed into their home communities, where this is not possible, distinct resettlement projects may need to be developed, particularly with a view to providing a source of income for repatriated groups. GARR has experience of this type of activity from its past work, and proposes to repeat experiences of collaboration with other development organisations working in each zone (eg. Caritas and local cooperatives). It is envisaged, for instance, that it may be possible to draw up contracts with these organisations for the integration of the displaced people into existing programmes. GARR would provide some minimum supervision of these activities. GARR is also active in advocacy work with the aim of ensuring that governmental and international bodies take the necessary action to ensure that similar situations do not recur and that the rights of Haitian migrants and the community of Haitian origin in the Dominican Republic are systematically respected. VII. PROJECT ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, MONITORING, REPORTING Project Administration GARR will be responsible for all aspects of the regular administration, in coordination with the ONM. Project Finance Management and Controls Day-to-day financial management will be carried out by GARR. The organisation's accounts will be audited by a recognised firm in early 2000. Project Monitoring Procedures GARR will provide a narrative and financial report to Christian Aid after the first month and on completion of the project, which will then be discussed and passed on to ACT. The Christian Aid Field Officer in Haiti will also have a role in monitoring project activities and ensuring that ACT procedures are adhered to. Monitoring of individual cases of repatriations will be possible through the documentation process, although this cannot realistically be continued once the people concerned return to different parts of the country. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE Project Assessment, Start-Up, Implementation, Close-Out, Transition From Emergency The local committees are already taking steps to respond to the large numbers of repatriated migrants who are arriving in their communities but are limited in what they can do by the availability of funds. GARR's core staff is already in place and is preparing the planned actions described. The work can therefore commence immediately on receipt of funds. The crisis phase of the assistance is expected to last one month (although this may have to be reviewed if the situation continues), with the post-crisis phase taking a further 6-8 months. It is therefore expected that the full project will be completed by the beginning of October 2000. COORDINATION ACT, Government, International Agencies, Other NGOs This proposal has been discussed with the ONM, the state body responsible for migration issues, and with other members of the ACT Committee Haiti. GARR will actively seek to collaborate with other agencies operating in related fields, particularly at the resettlement stage. ACT APPEAL BUDGET Confirmed - ACT Network Donations US$ Christian Aid 40,000 Unconfirmed - ACT Network Donations Danchurchaid 20,000 TOTAL INCOME 60,000 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE Description Type of Number Cost/Unit Budget Budget Unit of Units Gdes Gdes US$ EXPENDITURE: DIRECT ASSISTANCE Crisis Phase Food people 10,000 15 150,000 8,376 Sanitation lump sum 150,000 8,376 Materials f/board & lodging lump sum 400,000 22,335 Clothing lump sum 250,000 13,959 Transport to place of origin people 5,000 100 500,000 27,919 Health & medical inputs lump sum 100,000 5,584 Post Crisis Phase Shelter people 2,000 228.34 456,680 25,500 Disaster preparedness & management training lump sum 107,454 6,000 sub total 2,114,134 118,049 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE Communications Equipment Radios unit 10 9,350 98,500 5,500 PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS & SUPPORT Staff Salaries & Support Project staff salaries person 2 12,000 24,000 1,340 Staff Travel Per diems (food /lodging) 6 staff days 10 3,600 36,000 2,010 Office Operations Administrative costs 10% of dir. Costs 211,413 11,805 Vehicle Operations Fuel truck 35,000 1,954 Vehicle rental days 20 2,125 42,500 2,373 sub total 348,913 19,483 Description Type of Number Cost/Unit Budget Budget Unit of Units Gdes Gdes US$ AUDIT & EVALUATION Audit of ACT Appeal Funds lump sum 26,864 1,500 Program Evaluation lump sum 44,773 2,500 sub total 71,636 4,000 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 2,633,182 147,031 BALANCE -1,558,642 -87,031 Budget exchange rate is GDES: USD 17.909 BUDGET SUMMARY US$ Total Estimated Expenditures 147,031 Contributions/Pledges to date 60,000 BALANCE REQUESTED OF ACT MEMBERS 87,031 150 route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel: 41 22 791 6033 Fax: 41 22 791 6506 Coordinating Office APPEAL FACT SHEET Appeal Number: LAHT92 Appeal Name: Haiti - Repatriation from Dominican Republic Date Issued: 25 November 1999 Project Completion Date: 30 September 2000 Project Description: The Support Group for Refugees and Repatriated People (GARR) proposes assisting the most vulnerable of those who are forced into repatriation by establishing or strengthening 8 reception points along the border with the Dominican Republic. This will entail equipping the reception points so that they can document each case, provide emergency medical aid and food, pay for transport "home" for the most destitute, and find shelter and means of making a living for those with no place to go. Implementing Activity Appeal Target Partner Description (USD) GARR Sanitation, shelter, food/non-food, 147,031 medical care, transport, resettlement assistance, Disaster Preparedness/Management training. TOTAL APPEAL TARGET: $ 147,031 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide network of churches and their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ecumenical Centre Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33 150, route de Ferney Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06 1211 Geneva 2 Telex: 415 730 OIK CH Switzerland http://www.act-intl.org distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -