International Council of Archives

After our experience of the Köln disaster in 2009, the Blue Shield decided to propose to the Haitian authorities and our local colleagues the construction of a treatment center to meet the initial requirements for the protection of vulnerable cultural property.

This center, called the Ark, is dedicated to the mass treatment of damaged documentary heritage (records, archives and books) in order to ensure them a long-term preservation. As the infrastructure of the country has not survived, we are planning to establish and test the functioning of this first temporary modular building.

Some partners already joined the Blue Shield. Functional organization of the Ark is ready, treatment procedures have already been tested during our last mission in July in some institutions which were not so affected by the earthquake. ICA has funded this phase of the project through PCOM. Architects produced the plans of the Ark. A site is kindly given to this purpose during two years. Some firms proposed us to ship and give some containers which will be fitted out to store rescued and treated collections.

This project is also a very good way to bring together international volunteers and Haitian colleagues: they will share their knowledge, colleagues will be trained in the emergency rescue operations and they will increase their resilience against risks. They will learn how to face new disasters and be reactive.