Hábitat Dominicana was present from the first days of anguish and despair of hundreds of families that were affected by the strong winds of Hurricane Fiona in communities of El Seibo, Miches and La Romana through the Resilient Reconstruction project after the passage of Hurricane Fiona at the end of from last year.
Allies such as the Ministry of Housing and Buildings (MIVED) gave the first support to start with the rapid action construction brigades, with assistance and reconstruction work in the different communities, collaborating with 112 families, in addition to the logistical contribution and delivery of materials donated for the construction works, the Punta Catalina Thermoelectric Power Plant, which immediately showed solidarity supporting 50 families so that they could have a better place to live and with adequate conditions and appropriate electrical installations.
Mr. Enrique De Castro, a farmer from the eastern part of the country, supported the reconstruction work of the organization so that 49 families from the communities closest to the center of the town of El Seibo were intervened. The La Romana–Bayahibe Hotel Association, was part of the allies united in this human cause, collaborating so that 20 affected families in the community of Benerito were able to reestablish themselves, Starbucks Corporation, who have contributed so that two families could transform their lives, one with the construction of a complete housing module and another with the repair of their home, Grupo Cometa, allies that have enabled 6 families to have safe access to electricity in their homes, and ROTARY DISTRITO 4060, an ally that collaborated with the construction of roofs for 2 families and training for these in response to emergencies.
Also thank the support of the NGO World Vision Dominican Republic, which collaborated with the mapping of the communities and selection of families to intervene, to the municipalities of the areas where work was done, who joined the cause of housing, from the first hours after the event and until now, they have been supporting vulnerable families with the rebuilding and repair of resilient homes that guarantee the safety of the families most affected by the atmospheric phenomenon.
“The main interest of our organization when we started the work in the affected areas is that each person could return to their home and provide follow-up and support to hundreds of families who lost everything due to the passage of the hurricane, we have been closely with the most vulnerable together with our allies, volunteers and the great team of collaborators who strive every day to empower families. Thank you all, we continue to work harder and in favor of decent housing.” Commented Cesarina Fabián, national director of Habitat Dominicana.
The response plan for affected families was launched on September 24, 2022. To date, more than 239 families have been intervened with complete and partial construction, access to resilient housing services, technical assistance, training of community emergency committees, empowerment of leaders, community volunteers and their involvement in development and transformation activities in the locations where Habitat Dominicana has been working.
“These were difficult times for so many people who were left unprotected, without a place to be, out in the open, many elderly people and frightened children, with their school supplies, clothes, wet shoes, and parents not knowing what to do. Right there we arrived and our allies supported the cause that motivates the organization, we immediately started working and together we have been getting families to return to their homes, from Habitat for Humanity we thank our local allies who leveraged funds locations of our Habitat for Humanity International risk management fund.” Expressed Gina Vera, manager of Development of Resources and Communications of Dominican Habitat.
Most of the damages were on the roofs and on the walls of the houses, which are mainly made up of palm boards, in accordance with the priority policies for vulnerable groups, technical-constructive logistics that the organization has, prioritizing headed households by women heads of household, pregnant or lactating women, people with physical disabilities, with mental disabilities, with unaccompanied minors, with children under 5 years of age or over 65 years of age.
The organization plans to continue with other projects with allies that join, to continue empowering families and preparing resilient buildings, with greater security for a more comfortable habitability.
