This week, 7 multipurpose centers have been opened during a ceremony in Cayes-Jacmel. The construction was funded by the Community Violence Reduction (CVR) Section of teh Minustah for an amount of USD$1.367 million, nd executed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with local councils, the departmental Directorate of the Ministry of Ministry of Interior and Territorial Collectivities and the NGO Life Giving Force.

These centers are located in seven of the ten municipalities of the department of Southeast, which are the the most vulnerable to weather, Marigot, Belle Anse, Grand Gosier, La Vallée de Jacmel, Bainet, Côtes de Fer and Cayes-Jacmel.

The inauguration took place in the presence Special Representative of Secretary-General of the United Nations in Haiti, Mariano Fernández Amunátegui, of the departmental and municipal authorities of the regions concerned and representatives of community-based organizations.

These are multi-functional structures that can be used as temporary shelters or as emergency operations centers, they can also serve as training sites and of leisure or house administrative services.

With an area of ​​322 m2 each, these centers meet earthquake and anticyclonic standards and are equipped with an administrative space, a conference room, a library and a cafeteria. They are also fully equipped with office equipment and computers, stand-alone power generation and water purification stations capable of producing more than 100,000 gallons of water per day.

By inaugurating all of these 7 Multipurpose Centers, Mariano Fernández reaffirmed the determination of teh Minustah to "support state institutions in promoting the rule of law, the rehabilitation of damaged structures and and the elimination of insecurity in poor neighborhoods."

Photo credit : Logan Abassi – UN/MINUSTAH

HL/ HaitiLibre