I Believe in Haiti

The city of Gonaives, with help from the IOM (International Organization for Migration), has been busy preparing for the Hurricane season, including the construction of a purpose-built hurricane shelter to accommodate families living in low-lying area, adding extra stories to Gonaïves’ schools so that vulnerable members of the population can be brought to safety, and building a new bridge as an additional escape route.

Almost 200 men and women have been trained and employed in the ancient skill of terracing as part of a US Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Programme de Revitalisation et de Promotion de l’Entente et de la Paix (PREPEP) project for rural employment creation. Local farmer Mercius Paul hopes “this project will continue throughout this area and even further to share the knowledge”.

Along with the intricate system of terraces and irrigation canals, 4.8 miles of hard top roads have been built. And in preparation for the hurricane season, stocks of Jerry cans, hygiene kits, and kitchen sets for more than 20,000 families have been placed, and are ready for distribution in Port-au-Prince, Gonaïves, Jacmel and Les Cayes.