Praktische Hilfe in Haiti - Aide practique en Haïti
Martin Künzi 18 April 2010 16:40:19
The Salvation Army (TSA) currently serves as the UN-designated "lead agency" for some 20’000 individuals who are living in tents within a soccer stadium near the Army's Port-au-Prince headquarters. As Haiti's rainy season approaches, TSA is making it a priority to transition refugees from the camp into temporary shelters and has submitted a proposal to USAID for funding to provide 10’000 transitional shelters. Lead partner in transitional shelters is The Salvation Army World Services Office (SAWSO). A technical working group has created frame specifications and a proposal for transitional housing. TSA proposal would use salvaged timber killed by mountain pine beetles in Colorado. This would provide a green and environmentally conscious solution for the use of the wood. Besides being based on lodge pole pine as the framing material, they also have corrugated metal roofing, wood flooring, and plastic tarp wrapping on the sides. The living space is of approximately 18.5 square meters. The shelter will be secured in concrete footings, and will utilize hurricane straps to safely secure the roof to the unit. Based on the shelter cluster design parameters, the units have a life expectancy of 3 to 5 years. It is expected, however, that the units will exceed that period. Units for families with physical disabilities will be constructed (considering that the earthquake has created “a generation of amputees”). The plan was also to include a solar cooker, kitchen kid, including plates, cups and pots. However, for financial reasons these solar cookers and kitchen kids cannot be guaranteed yet.TSA awaits word from USAID on whether its proposal for 10’000 transitional houses (in PoP, Jacmel and Petit Goave) will be accepted. In case it is not, TSA will build 5’000 transitional shelters, regardless of external funding support.
Picture of the transitional shelter by TSA:
TSA would train crews and hire local workers in Haiti to construct the shelters which would not only provide jobs, but also provide technical skills for Haitians to use in future construction projects. These transitional housing units will provide a safer and more structurally sound environment than has been available to many Haitians.
Additionally, a wonderful relationship has been established with Senator Joseph Lambert in Haiti. Senator Lambert, President of the Parliament, arranged a meeting with the Minister of Interior to discuss TSA's response to the disaster and strategy to assist the people of Haiti with transitional shelter.
Currently, a Salvation Army assessment team has been deployed to Haiti comprising personnel from International Headquarters, Switzerland, Norway, Canada and the USA to assist TSA Leadership in Haiti develop a medium to long-term strategy of TSA's recovery effort. Their work has been focusing on both TSA's work in Port-au-Prince and the regional communities in the South of Haiti (rebuilding Divisional Headquarters facilities, Corps buildings, schools, health clinic, children’s home, Salvation Army compounds). The exact recovery programme has not been confirmed yet.
TSA Switzerland is represented in Haiti by the couple Sylvaine and Daniel Mägli. Sylvaine Mägli works as consultant for the School Programme supported by TSA Switzerland and Daniel works as a Project Coordinator.
Furthermore, TSA Switzerland had employed an emergency worker for Haiti, who has also worked for TSA during the Tsunami emergency relief aid. She returned 3 weeks ago from Haiti and is consulting TSA Switzerland regarding recovery work in Haiti.
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