IOM - Assessment on the Psychosocial Needs of Haitians Affected ...

C) Qualitative Results: Interviews and Focus Groups
Only issues important in relation to the quantitative component will be highlighted in this
section.
The first set of questions aimed at looking at housing and displacement conditions of the
family. Results indicated that the majority of the IDPs interviewed are living in sheet metal
housing, wood houses and tents where they share their tents with other family members. Many of
the IDPs interviewed expressed that they face the threat of eviction and restriction of
movements. Families also expressed that there is a lack of safe spaces for children to play. IDP’s
described their displacement and their social circumstances as follows: “I feel lonely, I am living
in an area of the camp where I do not know anyone… my family got resettled in another camp”.
Many stated that they deal with these effects alone because they “we were relocated to this camp
and I do not have anyone to talk with.” Some participants in the group discussions described the
following “I do not want to visit anyone and share my difficulties and fears, people around were
displaced as well and are even more stressed then me and have enough things to worry about…”
“I am staying alone in my tent as I don’t know and do not trust the people in the camp” .
Security problems are common in the camps. Some participants in the group discussions
expressed their sense of insecurity as follows: “the security here is more and more a problem,
the prisoners escaped the prisons, they are here somewhere, maybe even in our camp…”, “every
day we hear stories of people we know who were raped, If I know that my security and the
security for my children is insured I will not stress… I can not sleep because I am scarred of
being raped…”, “my children are supposed to go to school, I do not dare to send them, the
streets are insecure, and what if another earthquake takes place…”“Rape is a part of daily life
for many in the camps because everyday we hear stories of people we know who were raped.”
While they do not like their current residency and living in tents, they are also afraid of being
kicked-out of their current residencies before they are able to find suitable housing. Many fear
that they will be sent to new tent camps that are further away from any services and schooling for
their children. They stated that they do not have the income to pay the transportation costs for
travel to and from basic services.
The second sets of questions looked at how economic, family, social and recreational life has
changed after the disaster. As for the family life, the head of the house was mostly the husband,
wife or another family member or a friend. Some of the females from female-headed households
expressed the sudden increase in the responsibilities they have to carry. They feel that after the
loss or injury of their husbands due to the earthquake, they now have to assume the role as both
“mother and father” for their children. While some households experienced the death of the
primary income producer, other households had to deal with the fallout of an injured head of
household. Many men feel emasculated because although they are physically present in the
household, they are unable to work due to their disabilities (most commonly an amputation).
They are left feeling that they are “less than human”. The weight of responsibility often now
rests with the women. The relationship of parents with children was also affected as many
families expressed that they cannot control their children anymore, due to logistical
considerations and the fact that children are becoming “too free” but also that parents “became
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