Transitional shelters

Transitional shelters are defined as shelters that are expected to last for up to 3 years, to provide secure, dry shelter for the family to help them get back on their feet.

Total number of shelters constructed by SASH 284

Total number of shelters constructed by the Red Cross for SASH camps 1873

Total number of shelters constructed by IOM for SASH beneficiaries 450

Total number of shelters built so far 2607

When we took on camp management responsibilities for the following camps:

  • Parc Delice de Bellevue
  • Haut Lakul
  • Kolo Kolo
  • Organisation Paysan De Morne Barbo
  • Association Habitants De Cite Barbo
  • Le Survivant de Cotin

We discovered that the German Red Cross was building T shelters for the Kolo Kolo and some other camps surrounding these locations, SASH negotiated with the head of the German Red Cross shelter team to have all the camps, excluding AHDCB and Le Survivant de Cotin, included in their programme. AHDCB and Le Survivant de Cotin lay outside of their build zone so couldn’t be included in this first phase.

In order for SASH to meet the shelter need of these families in these two camps and for those vulnerable families living in Chevannes, Cotin, Dufort and Carrefour Dufort but not in camps we partnered with Samaritans Purse and using local volunteers we constructed 284.

We were approached by the IOM shelter programme manager at the beginning of September, he advised us that IOM had a donor in Korea who was willing to build 350 houses in the Leogane commune and he asked if SASH would be willing to provide beneficiary lists. This project is providing a more permanent shelter solution; each house is built using a metal frame and concrete walls and will last for around 15 years. So currently the SASH team is interviewing and assessing families in the following camps that we took camp management responsiblities for in October: 

  • 12 Janvier
  • AJC
  • Prosch
  • Bas Dufort
  • Michel
  • Bino L'ester
  • Pak Jel
  • Gestion 

Tents

Total tents distributed to date 5842.

When SASH arrived in the region of Premiere Dessources, Leogane the biggest need we discovered was that of waterproof shelter. Most of the families living in this area had been living in spontaneously erected camps in the areas of open ground, these areas were football pitches, parks and private agricultural land. The families were living in cramped conditions under tarpaulins with little privacy and dignity.

On 1st of April the Salvation Army donated the first 25 tents to SASH for distribution throughout the villages of Chevannes, Cotin and Dufort.

Sean Penn’s charity, JPHRO, donated 1000 tents to SASH on 26th May and all other tents were donated by ShelterBox between 1st May and September 2010.

SASH used these tents to assist families to move out of the camps onto to their own or family land, SASH provided tools and assistance for the families to clear the rubble of their former homes and then put up the tent. This decongestion of the camps in the region improved conditions in the camps for those families with no land to move to, with fewer people the latrines were more pleasant, there was greater space for each individual family, greater security and a much lower fire risk.