KEY DEVELOPMENTS
On August 21, the Government of Haiti (GoH) Department of Civil Protection (DPC) issued a red alert and activated the National Emergency Response Center due to anticipated heavy rainfall and strong winds from Hurricane Irene. In response, a 21-person team from USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), including 16 surge capacity consultants positioned throughout Haiti, worked in coordination with the GoH, the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and international humanitarian organizations in Haiti to monitor the approaching storm and assist with preparedness and response efforts. Hurricane Irene passed over the northern coast of Haiti on August 23, causing isolated flooding but no significant damage. By August 25, the GoH and the international community had deactivated all coordination and response mechanisms. OFDA also deactivated its surge capacity consultants.
According to the July 2011 International Organization for Migration (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), nearly 595,000 people remain in 894 camps in earthquake-affected areas throughout Haiti, representing a six percent decrease in camp population since the May 2011 DTM report and a 61 percent decrease since the height of displacement in July 2010.
As of September 1, USAID/OFDA grantees reported the completion of 28,135 transitional shelters (t-shelters) in Haiti, an increase of 570 shelters since the figure reported on August 1. From May 1, 2010—the start of USAID/OFDA’s t-shelter program—to September 1, 2011, USAID/OFDA grantees built an average of nearly 62 t-shelters per day. In addition, as of September 1, USAID/OFDA grantees had completed repairs to approximately 4,791 structures deemed ―yellow‖ by habitability assessments—or safe for habitation following minor repairs—accommodating 6,818 households. The shelter repair figure represents an increase of 1,025 households since the figure reported on August 1.