Civil Protection and Disaster Preparedness in Haiti

Strengthening Haitian local authorities and medias capacities in disaster preparedness and civil protection
Context and Issue: 

Generally vulnerable to important disasters, medias are particularly and structurally fragile in Haiti. They naturally suffered from the consequences of the earthquake that hit Haiti on the 12th January 2010. Some of its actors (radios, journalists associations) immediately and spontaneously organised to build up an operational and efficient information circulation system. Nevertheless, these systems are concentrated around Port-au-Prince and hardly dwell in the rest of the country. The expansion of an efficient information system outside of Port-au-Prince essentially depends on humanitarian communication capacities of local authorities, local medias and other organisations such as NGOs. That is where this project started. 

The overall objective of this project was to strengthen Haitian local authorities and the media’s ability to provide disaster preparedness and civil protection before, during and after a natural disaster, especially through communication. 

This project took place in the national framework of decentralisation that started more than twenty years ago. The only efficient local authorities to date are the townships but their very low communication budgets and means didn’t allow them to take the relevant actions.

Project's activities: 

Humanitarian communication programmes were held in five municipalities in the areas most vulnerable to natural disasters or population displacement, Leogane, Jacmel, Les Cayes, Hinche and Gonaive. Internews also helped to develop partnerships between local authorities and several local radios so as to improve medias' and local authorities' prevention and reactivity to a natural disaster. Commune representatives in Civil Protection are trained to crisis communication.

In the meantime, local medias are trained to Civil Protection and preparation and management of disasters. Internews also provides technical support and equipment to several radio stations and train journalists to produced programmes such as the humanitarian information program 'ENDK' (contraction of "the information we need to know" in Creole). 

Participants and Beneficiaries: 

Beneficiaries of the action offered by Internews in Haitian local authorities are mayors and mayors' assistants, communal lands representatives and local committees representatives. However, through the trainings and partnerships developed between municipalities and local radios, the project aims to improve reactivity and accuracy of the information put at the population's disposal. Indeed, populations affected by natural disasters are at the very height of the project.

Outcomes: 

- Organisation of 3 workshops on local communication and natural disaster and epidemic prevention.

- Full equipment of 5 press offices

- Conception and launching of 5 partner town websites (www.mairiedeleogane.com), website management professional training for each municipal team.

- Broadcasting of 5 interactive radio programs on epidemic and natural disaster risks focusing on the implication of the municipal authorities.

- Production of 15 radio reports on the most significant risks for each town

- Design and dissemination of an educational kit aimed at the communication officers and majors

- Communication crisis support to the cities of the Gonaïves and Léogane during the Tropical cyclone Tomas and the epidemic crisis.

"Cette démarche de sensibilisation contre les catastrophes demande l’implication de tous. La mairie, la délégation, les ONG doivent travailler ensemble, élaborer des plans en vue d’apporter de bonnes réponses à la population. Rien ne pourra être fait si les différents acteurs ne s’entendent pas pour mettre en place une stratégie de communication capable de transmettre de façon rapide et coordonnée les informations adéquates."
Ronald Andris, Maire Adjoint de Jacmel, 25 Septembre 2010
"C’est vraiment pour moi une grande opportunité de pouvoir m’asseoir avec les principaux acteurs du Sud-est, afin de discuter des problèmes liés à la vulnérabilité environnementale de la commune de Jacmel et du département. (...) Je crois qu’il n’est pas superflu de rappeler pour vous que l’essentiel de notre métier réside dans l’information, ce qui sous-entend que la fiabilité et l’efficacité de nos sources vont avoir des résultats positifs directs sur la population."
Alain Pierre, Représentant de l’Association des Journalistes du Sud-Est, 25 Septembre 2010

PROJECT NEWS

 
2012.01.10
> Reinforcing the Haitian Civil Defense
> Haiti
> Haiti Humanitarian Information Service
> Civil Protection and Disaster Preparedness in Haiti

Two years later: Good prospects for Haitian media

Since the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti Internews has worked intensively to rebuild and further develop the capacity of local media and of the government to communicate vital information to the crisis affected population.  
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2011.01.17
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Live discussions on Haïti’s anniversary panel in London

Internews Europe participated to one of the biggest, inclusive Haiti anniversary discussions Monday, January 17th from 5 to 7pm, in London "Communicating with Haiti: Where the Response Failed, Where it Succeeded, and How we Move Forward". Click here to watch the podcast of the panel. With a large registered audience, and through a live stream to a group gathered in CDAC Haiti, the panel discusses the year's successes and failures in communicating with and engaging the disaster-affected during relief and recovery work.  . 
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Haiti, Humanitarian Response, Media And Society, Media Production, Technology
 
 
2011.01.12
> Haiti Humanitarian Information Service
> Civil Protection and Disaster Preparedness in Haiti

After Haiti, Information Coordination is Central to Future Humanitarian Response

The international response to the Haiti earthquake has shown, more than any crisis efforts to date, how media and coordinated information distribution saves lives.
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2011.01.07
> Haiti Humanitarian Information Service
> Civil Protection and Disaster Preparedness in Haiti

Haiti Earthquake – first anniversary: Internews opens Press Centre at Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince

Internews is creating an International Press Centre in Port au Prince to support international journalists covering the one year anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January the 12th 2010. 
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Haiti, Humanitarian Response, Media And Society, Media Production, Technology
 

PHOTOS

  • Emission multiplex réalisée à Léogane (studio de Cool FM)
  • Couverture (verso & recto) du mémento de communication
  • le maire des Gonaives Justin Pierrelus en conference de presse le 5 novembre
  • Attaches de presse de la mairie ds Gonaives Pierre Paquiot a gauche et Tchawel
  • Equipe du comite communal de protection civile des Gonaives partant pour encoura
  • Equipement du bureau de presse de Léogane
  • Le chargé de communication de Léogane présente le nouveau bureau de presse