CDAC HAITI SITREP
Sitrep #6 02/02/2010
Contact Imogen Wall, UN OCHA
wall@un.org
+41 22 917 4694
+41 79 444 0034
+44 7932 973 551
Top lines
? CDAC and affiliates now coordinating outreach on behalf of UNDP (Cash for
Work), UNFPA and the protection cluster (advertising support services for
women, advocacy on forced relocation and IDP rights), WFP and food cluster
(explaining current food distribution system), WHO and the health cluster
(outreach on upcoming vaccination programme). Contact
jquintanilla@internews.org or Knutson@un.org at field level, or wall@un.org at
global level.
? Systematic efforts underway to reach organizations working in this sector in
Haiti not previously affiliated with CDAC to ensure coordination with all.
? Event planned in London end of Feb for review of CDAC progress and planning
for longer term
? IFRC and UNFPA now have dedicated outreach staff on the ground working
with CDAC
Radio:
Internews now producing Nouvelles Utiles (News You Can Use) on
a daily basis with a ‘best of’ show on Sundays. The show is in Creole
and is now 15 minutes long. 25 stations including MINUSTAH FM are
now broadcasting the show, with some replaying it up to five times a day,
AMARC (world association of community broadcasters) supporting
community media in PaP, working with RAMAK (Rasanbleman medya
pou Aksyon Kominote – grouping of 41 community stations across Haiti.
Currently carrying out assessments of needs and planning support. They
are looking at stations outside of PaP as well.
International radio:
? CDAC Haiti is now liaising with VOA Creole, who have the biggest audience of any
international media service, in PaP. CDAC radio work inc Nouvelles Utiles made
available to VOA. Coordination efforts continue.
? Lisa Robinson (BBCWST) working with BBC Creole service to coordinate messaging
with clusters on ground. Content has focused on: PDSD in children (spotting the
signs and where to find specialist services), access to microcredit and cash for work
(where to go) and hygiene tips. For full messaging list see below.
? Lisa in PaP this week to advise on and support development of messaging and
longer term campaign work.
? BBC Creole service now broadcasting daily – 20 minutes a day produced in Miami,
aired on BBC airwaves and aired on FM relays across PaP, Cap-Hatien, Gonaves,
Les Cayes, Jacmel and Jeremie.
? BBC Creole inviting feedback on haitibbc@hotmail.com and has secured a local text
number for SMS feedback (+509 3659 0070)
? BBC Creole also conducting informal feedback and ‘listening’ sessions in PaP for
rapid feedback (overall v positive)
Television:
? TV stations badly hit by quake. Unclear if any local stations are on air, although TV
reporters have access to CDAC content and messaging through local media
association partnerships
Print:
? Print capacity badly damaged before quake. Local paper Le Nouvelliste still
publishing online only but hoping to resume print early Feb
? Print journalists able to access CDAC content and messaging through local media
association partnerships.
Phones and Telecoms: EIS (Emergency Information Service) run by Thomson Reuters
foundation, a system for getting information to and from quake survivors by text, is up and
functioning.
? EIS has been requested to cross promote Internews and BBC humanitarian radio
work
? They have established a short code with Ushahidi – survivors text 4636 to subscribe.
? The service is free. EIS producing fliers advertising 4636 shortcode and advertising
service on local radio
? EIS has now sent out over 16000 texts. EIS working with IFRC and Haitian Red
Cross to ensure information received goes to those who can respond and act on it.
? New staffer Richard Meares arrived on Sunday. EIS has relocated from UN camp to
Villa Creole
? IFRC securing agreement from local telecoms agents to broadcast free SMS re
messaging on measles vaccination, encouraging vaccinations and providing
information about locations etc
? IFRC working with Frontline SMS to develop SMS gateway for IFRC
Radio distributions US Military have completed distribution of 50,000 approx wind up models.
? Internews managing distribution of 10,000 approx radios via local stations. All
stations required to sign document committing to targeting vulnerable populations in
their distribution, particularly women and IPDs. OCHA field reports suggest non
CDAC distribution of radios was much more ad hoc.
? Freeplay Foundation currently fundraising for wind up radios and very keen to work
with us. Liaising with Internews on distribution needs, and UNFPA on getting radios
to women specifically. Also interested in programming in education.
CDAC organizations and affiliates: work at field level
Messaging:
Messaging completed and incorporated into programming on:
- Upcoming vaccination campaign on polio and measles
- Current food distribution strategy – explaining voucher system, calling for calm etc
- Information on services for specialist health needs – HIV support, women who have been
sexually assaulted
- Blood drives (MSF and Haitian Red Cross)
- Pleas for calm and for people to stay off the road to allow aid through (OCHA, Haitian
police, MINUSTAH)
- Disease prevention advice including: adding drops of bleach to water, how long to keep
water and how to store it safely
- Identification of PDST and trauma symptoms in children and where to get help
- Information on Cash for Work programmes – how to get involved (through your
neighbourhood committees), how much you will earn and what you will be doing
(collecting rubble) – (UNDP and Early Recovery cluster)
All messaging from the humanitarian response is being developed in partnership with and signed
off by the relevant cluster, and packaged by local Haitian journalists to ensure cultural sensitivity
and appropriate use of language etc.
Clusters working with CDAC operations so far include:
Health (WHO)
WASH- child protection (UNICEF)
Early recovery (UNDP)
Protection (UNCHR, UNFPA)
Food (WFP)
Individual organizations include: Save the Children (adoption and PTSD in children), Haitian
police (illegal trade in aid), OCHA (appeals to keep roads open for aid), family reunification
(IFRC), Haitian Red Cross (blood drive), UNICEF (child vaccination programme)
Coordination:
Internews leading at field level on coordination and on humanitarian liaison, supported by Kristen
Knutson of OCHA who is facilitating contact with the clusters.
- Ongoing effort at field and global level to reach out to media and communications
organizations not previously affiliated with CDAC to offer coordination services and
discuss cooperation, including national media organizations. Meetings in PaP have now
been held with IMS, AMARC, Association of Haitian Journalists, RSF, SOS Journalists
and the Haitian Press Network. Most discussions have focused on immediate needs of
local journalists/media.
- IMS looking to rent a building to house all journalist/media organizations for one year
given offices have mostly been destroyed
Internews and EIS have also teamed up to create a single email address for organizations to
send ideas/requests for inclusion of content. It is Haiti.eis@gmail.com. They have also
collaborated together and with Kristen on developing a flier explaining CDAC and affiliates, CDAC
services and how to use them which is being distributed across the UN camp and beyond.
Local media support:
? Reporters Without Borders (RSF): RSF has established a Media Operations
Centre for local journalists located on Cheriez Street in Canape-Vert neighbourhood,
phone number +1 514 664 8695. The centre is scaling up to include room for 20
journalists to work, broadband internet, telephone lines, printers etc and support for
journalists in distress. Centre is headed by Ives-Marie Chanel.
? RSF have also brought in large quantities of technical kit and support to help local
stations get back on air.
? IMS supporting cash grants to specific affected journalists already identified by RSF
? IMS, AMARC, Internews and RSF are considering a number of interventions to
support local media including:
o Trauma counseling
o Support with communications especially ex Haiti
o Food, water, accommodation and fuel for stations
o Exchange programmes for Haitian journalists
CDAC and affiliates HQ:
Internews:
? Finalising mapping of local media impact and needs assessment.
? Finalising audience research – information access patterns and information needs th? Finalising plans for event in Paris on Feb 24 involving Francophone media and
donors
? Applying for funding from DfID and EIS
BBC WST: Lisa on mission to PaP from Miami to work with CDAC Haiti on messaging and feedback and to source local stringers etc for BBC Creole programming
TRF/EIS: Applying for CERF funding through OCHA. Coordinating with Internews on this.
Cycling in new staff member James and Richard to replace Anastasia who is leaving PaP.
UN-OCHA:
? Negotiating space on OneResponse site for CDAC Haiti and affiliates as cross
cutting humanitarian service
? Working with Save the Children to plan lessons learned and longer term planning
event for Haiti response in London end of Feb
? Working to develop and support coordination mechanisms at field and HQ level
? Reaching out at HQ level to organizations working in this field deploying in Haiti
? Supporting funding applications for work in Haiti from CDAC Haiti members and
affiliates
IMS: Working on long term plans for support to local media. In contact with CDAC Haiti coordinators at field and global level
RSF: Planning longer term support to local media
Rory Peck Trust: Considering grants for freelancers and families affected.
CPJ: Attempting to investigate journalists’ needs on the ground. In contact with CDAC
Haiti coordinators at HQ and field level
IRIN: Ben Parker has CDAC as focal point for IRIN and liaison with IT/social media work (ie
Ushahidi, InSTEDD etc).