HAITI - Long-term relocation plans needed for earthquake victims

PORT-AU-PRINCE (AP):

Haiti's new president needs to lay out a long-term plan to relocate tens of thousands of Haitians living under tents and tarps, international aid group, Oxfam, said yesterday.

The statement comes on the 18-month anniversary of the powerful earthquake that flattened much of Port-au-Prince and surrounding cities, which, authorities say, killed 300,000 and sent even more to live in impromptu settlements.

Efforts to dismantle the camps that popped up in the capital's public plazas, soccer fields and streets have been put on hold as the new government, led by President Michel Martelly, struggles to get a prime minister approved by lawmakers. There are 634,000 people still living in the camps, the UN's shelter committee said in May.

"We want a comprehensive approach done in an appropriate time frame," said Cinta Pluma, a spokeswoman for Oxfam. Haiti's displaced population "needs to be consulted and participate in the project."

Patrick Rouzier, a reconstruction and housing adviser to the president, said the government plans to relocate 25,000 to 30,000 people from six major camps.

"I understand Oxfam's position, but we have a comprehensive plan that we are finalising," Rouzier said by telephone. "This has been in the works for the past three months. ... we are on it 100 per cent."

Rouzier said the pilot project will bring camp dwellers back into their original neighbourhoods but with better services.