CDEMA recognises IDDR
Head of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), referring to this year’s sloganfor International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDR), “Home, Safe Home” says that given that displacements as a result of disaster is a reality the region knows well, regional governments must give this matter urgent attention.
Executive Director of CDEMA, Ronald Jackson told media practitioners during a press briefing yesterday morning at his office that the focus of IDDR is on prevention, protection and reducing the number of people affected by disasters. He noted that the campaign focusses on the primary importance of the family home as a sanctuary and a safe refuge in times of disasters and preventing displacement. Jackson made the point as he indicated that some 24.2 million
displacements were recorded last year by the International Displacement Monitoring Centre.
“The recent impacts from Hurricanes Irma and Maria have highlighted the need to tackle the incidence of vulnerability which are still very much prevalent and which has again been highlighted as a key issue during this past September. In that regard, CDEMA is proposing a clear focus on safer housing standards and construction, but also examining national social protection policies, including social safety nets,” he said. With that in mind, he said that non-impacted states will need to consider arrangements for receipt of displaced persons from affected states. He made the point as he noted that as a result of the passage of Irma and Maria a number of persons had to be evacuated from the affected country and some even before the storm hit.
“Governments were offering, opening up their doors to persons impacted, so it is something that we need to consider now within the broader policy context so that it becomes more orderly. These may or may not be CARICOM nationals and maybe transient or desiring to settle, the appropriate measures for the treatment of these persons will need full consideration within the context of CARICOM’s broader policy, but also individual national government policies,” he added.
He indicated that CDEMA will focus its assistance on displaced persons in Antigua and Barbuda as well as Dominica by focussing on the most vulnerable. He said they will be offering grants for groceries, hygiene supplies and rental grant support and they will also be contributing to the build back better efforts for at least 40 families in Dominica.
“We encourage regional governments to take the urgent steps in advancing national programmes for enhancing resilience through tackling vulnerability, through also the modernisation and legislating and enforcement of building codes and building standards and also the strengthening of the policy enabling environment nationally,” he said.
Jackson made the point as he noted that CDEMA remains committed to continue working to reinforce national and local systems in order to build resilience to disasters at the national and community levels. Jackson further indicated that this commitment is reflected in priority areas 1 and 4 of the Regional Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy 2014-2024, which looks at institutional strengthening and community resilience building respectively. He added that this regional strategy focusses on building resilience and advancing sustainability of the Caribbean community. (JRT)