IOM Bahamas will implement the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), an integrated set of tools to track and monitor displacement and population mobility during the emergency phase of the response to support evidence-based humanitarian operational planning and the identification of vulnerable groups for relevant stakeholders.

In order to create the conditions for early recovery from displacement, including the return to places of origin, IOM will support and work with the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development to provide Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM)-related assistance, including registration of individuals, management and upgrades of collective centres to meet minimum standards, advocacy and support in case of site closures.

A large proportion of vulnerable communities who were affected by Hurricane Dorian were persons of Haitian descent. IOM will support the Government of Bahamas to communicate to all affected populations by the hurricane Dorian on how to access basic assistance and support when returning to their place of origin. This will ensure that all basic needs from the affected populations are met without discrimination, establishing clear referral procedures, and including for persons in situations of vulnerability, such as victims of human trafficking. 

For migrants, these actions will be guided by the Guidelines to Protect Migrants in Countries Experiencing Conflict or Natural Disaster.

IOM will support families with temporary shelter assistance in the evacuated areas through cash-based rental support. Where families can return to their homes to carry out small-scale emergency repairs, IOM will provide tailored support to create a limited habitable space in damaged houses. Depending on the market situation, support will be provided through the provision of cash and/or labour and technical advice as appropriate.

IOM will use its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Assessment tool to inform the Government of The Bahamas and the other relevant stakeholders of outstanding recovery needs, indirectly benefiting affected populations. DTM will be used to support the recovery and transition phase, particularly in the context of return and reintegration processes. Analysis of existing DTM data, or data from adapted DTM tools, in combination with other data and analysis, will contribute toward providing an evidence base for transition and recovery programming and progress towards longer-term, development-orientated outcomes including durable solutions.

IOM will support families in the owner-driven reconstruction of their houses and, more specifically, in the provision of legal (housing, land and property) support, especially for persons that used to live in disputed areas or no-build zones.

IOM's engagements regarding durable solutions seek to end displacement situations of individuals, households, communities or other groups displaced through the provision of immediate and longer-term support such as debris removal, mould removal, provision of temporary shelter and house repairs. People that used to rent will be given support with cash and finding new accommodation.

In order to strengthen local health capacities to encourage to reduce and mitigate risks, IOM plans to carry out the following activities:

• Recruiting and assisting expert staff and volunteers to respond to health needs;
• Mobilising mobile medical teams to address the health needs in remote/affected areas;
• Procuring and distributing relief supplies and medicines in collaboration with health authorities;
• Supporting/establishing/strengthening the cold chain mechanisms and supply chain management;
• Capacity building for local health care workers on priority intervention areas;
• Building resilience in the affected communities (emergency preparedness and guidance).

IOM Bahamas preparedness activities aim to build the capacities and improve the ability of IOM and key stakeholders, such as the government and local organisations, the private sector as well as local communities to anticipate and effectively prepare to respond to the impact of likely hazards, events or conditions.

This will include a range of activities such as strengthening internal and inter-agency preparedness, developing the preparedness capacities of government and non-governmental partners to improve humanitarian response, strengthening the capacities of various stakeholders to assist migrants in the Bahamas and enhancing the safety and security skills of staff members working in treacherous environments.

Activities will be conducted to prepare collective centres/emergency shelters as well as map emergency shelters. Around the emergency shelters, communities will be trained in risk awareness and preparedness, with a special focus on youth and schools. Non-food items like tarps, solar lamps, jerrycans will be prepositioned and radio training will be conducted in communities.

Disaster prevention involves activities and measures designed to avoid existing and new disaster risks. Aligned with the Sendai Framework priorities, IOM's Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities will prevent or reduce displacement associated with disaster and climate risk, and strengthen resilience by incorporating “building-back-better” measures in the recovery and reconstruction phases. Specific activity areas will include:

• Conducting multi-hazard risk assessments;
• Community-based disaster risk management;
• Establishing and strengthening early warning systems;
• Capacity-building for government counterparts;
• Establishing risk-informed policies and strategies;
• Risk information systems;
• Carrying out environmental protection measures;
• Supporting planned relocations;
• Supporting training and livelihoods diversification.

IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has been proven to be highly effective as a preparedness tool. In order to support preparedness activities, IOM plans to integrate DTM into capacity building activities, map potential evacuation and displacement sites and set up data collection mechanisms to be ready before a natural disaster occurs.