ARTICLE - ASSIST. RETURN FROM D.R.

ASSISTANCE TO THE VOLUNTARY RETURN TO HAITI, FOR OUR COMPATRIOTS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
(Haiti Libre) -

After January 12, 2010, it is estimated that at least 200,000 Haitians crossed the border to the Dominican Republic in search of medical care, employment, family reunification and relief faced by the difficult conditions in Haiti. From September 2010, many of our compatriots had chosen to return to Haiti.

Conducted in coordination with the DGM, the Ministry of Interior and Police of Dominican Republic, the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme of IOM continues today and provides a real solution to our brothers and sisters who wish to return home. The process of assisted voluntary return [identification, registration, movement, reception and reintegration] begins with a meeting with potential returnees to explain the program. The IOM staff emphasizes that everyone can change his mind on his return at any time.

Since the program began in September 2010, with funding from the Bureau of Refugee Populations, and the U.S. State Department, IOM has assisted 1,721 Haitians to return to their places of origin in Haiti. Currently, the program focuses on helping the most vulnerable, those who are in a desperate situation, with no access to food or education. IOM plans to assist a thousand more people. However, demand is so high that the IOM is actively seeking ways to finance the continuation of the program of assisted voluntary return.

On the day of return, IOM will ensure that our compatriots are accompanied by a Creole-speaking staff at each stage of the process, which includes an escort, an assistance during passages through customs and border controls as well as an assistance for transport to their final destinations in Haiti.

IOM also issues an identification document to beneficiaries, to enable them to access reintegration services in Haiti, and grants an amount of USD$50 per beneficiary for the initial costs and an alimony of USD$65 per child to each mother. On behalf of the IOM, NGOs allocate scholarships of up to USD$150 per child of school age, which are paid directly to schools.

Once back home in Haiti during the reintegration phase, those who have made this choice, receive training in business creation and start-up capital of USD$200 per adult to create a micro enterprise (the amounts vary depending on the number of adults and/or children in each household), and have an income generation scheme funded by IOM and implemented by the staff of the Organization. Monitoring is carried out by NGO partners of IOM and/or by IOM staff.

"Many of these micro businesses thrive and their owners can now invest in new productive assets such as goats and chickens. Companies in the textile, footwear, food, raw or processed, and in other areas are created. Some recipients have combined their resources to increase the potential of exploitation," add Jean-Philippe Antolin, head of the program of assisted voluntary return of the IOM in the Dominican Republic.