UNDP role in Emergency Response and Risk Reduction in the Caribbean during 2004

UNDP role in Emergency Response and Risk Reduction in the Caribbean during 2004

Dr David Smith, Programme Specialist, Environment & Disaster Management, Jamaica. 04-2005

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AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

To my colleagues who responded at short notice with information from the UNDP Offices in Barbados, Haiti & Republica

Dominicana,

Thank You

Two ways to manage riskTwo ways to manage risk

Implement development-based programs that build resilience and increase capacity for risk reduction, hazard mitigation & preparedness

Provide assistance during and following an event for relief and recovery

These are complementary approaches

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation

Some responses to events of 2004– Floods in May in Hispaniola– Hurricanes Frances, Ivan & Jeanne

Some developmental activities

HAITI

Response in HaitiResponse in Haiti

Emergency Phase Preliminary Assessment Response coordination Deployment of UNDAC team and UN

Volunteers Daily/weekly national meetings Provision and delivery of

– relief items– transportation facilities– security to humanitarian convoys and at distribution

points

Response in HaitiResponse in Haiti

Prepared and launched two (2) flash appeals Media relations Supported strengthening of National Plan for

Disaster and Risk Management Institutional strengthening: ~50 local risk

management committees created and trained UN Inter-agency Disaster Response Team created

Response in HaitiResponse in Haiti

Short to medium term actionsFinalization of Inter-agency Contingency

Plan for Natural DisastersCreation of joint Disaster Assessment CellLaunching of a disaster risk awareness

campaign

Dominican Republic

Response in the Dominican Response in the Dominican Republic (DR)Republic (DR)

Event 1: May floodsUNDAC team deployedDamage assessment conducted, actions for

emergency response developedCoordinated international donor emergency

support

Response in the Dominican Response in the Dominican Republic (DR)Republic (DR)

Recovery and ReconstructionBCPR supported formulation of recovery

planFocus on housing sector

– Defined standards for housing– Government negotiations for land, basic

infrastructure

Response in the Dominican Response in the Dominican Republic (DR)Republic (DR)

Hurricane Jeanne Not as large an event as May floods or as in Haiti,

but major economic loss UNDAC deployment Formation of Inter-agency technical group for

disaster response Poor response to international appeal (more

emphasis by the international community on Haiti & Jamaica)

Response in the Dominican Response in the Dominican Republic (DR)Republic (DR)

Hurricane JeanneEstablishment of a Strategic Framework for

Disaster Reduction and Preparedness– Mainstreaming in sectors, budgetary allocations

UNDAC national capacity for disaster response evaluation (March 2005)

UNDP/EU Project to support risk reduction activities (for approval)

Grenada

Courtesy of www.grenadaemergency.com

Response in GrenadaResponse in Grenada

POST HURRICANE IVANCoordinator of the Eastern Caribbean Donor

Group for Disaster ManagementUNDAC Team deployedCoordination Centre for international relief

– Relief and recovery efforts

Participant in the development of a disaster risk reduction strategy & guidelines for recovery phase

Response in GrenadaResponse in Grenada

BCPR funded joint ECLAC/OECS socio-economic impact assessment, housing damage assessment.

BCPR funded establishment of the Grenada Liaison Office, technical assistance.

Trained 180 artisans in good building practices.

Response in GrenadaResponse in GrenadaRECOVERY & RECONSTRUCTION Design & implementation of 12-month work

programme Institutional Strengthening – Public Information

and Communication National consultation for the recovery process Coordination

– Donor conference– Flash appeal– Formulation of National Reconstruction Plan

The Bahamas

Response in the BahamasResponse in the Bahamas

UNDP / UNDAC assessment visit post event

IDB/ECLAC assessment of damage & lossAssistance by UNDAC team to NEMA

Bahamas, to develop database for tracking assessment and recovery data

JAMAICA

Response in Jamaica

Pre-Hurricane Ivan UNDP is designated focal point for donor community

(under the National Disaster Plan) Some members of UNDAC team arrive

Post-Hurricane Ivan UNDAC deployed immediately, assisted ODPEM in

assessment, provision of transportation BCPR approved relief assistance funds Coordinated emergency relief assistance Meetings held daily at UNDP office Established a relief and recovery coordination team

Response in JamaicaResponse in Jamaica

ECLAC/UNDP strategy for reconstructionProvided support to aid coordination,

communication and public informationProvided support in the procurement of

goods, management of international reconstruction funds

Provided effective EWS through the use of the Doppler radar (DIPECHO project)

Response in JamaicaResponse in Jamaica

Recovery and ReconstructionMember, Advisory Board ONRBCPR supported technical expertiseUNDAC identified areas for on-going

supportECLAC socio-economic impact assessmentNational Debrief (Nov. 2004)

Response in JamaicaResponse in JamaicaRecovery and Reconstruction

PIOJ Rapid livelihoods assessment (Dec. 04) School feeding programme for children of farmers

and fisher folks seriously affected by Ivan/ Relief supplies for farmers and fisher folks (UNDP/OCHA ODPEM & Red Cross)

Relief supplies to senior citizens and children (UNDP/OCHA Food for the Poor)

The Cayman Islands

Response in the Cayman IslandsResponse in the Cayman Islands

UNDP / UNDAC assessment visit post event, facilitated by DFID & OFDA

ECLAC assessment of damage & lossFollow-on project in reconstruction phase

for disaster management and reduction of vulnerability

Cayman IslandsCayman Islands

Strategy for Risk Management in the Cayman Islands Project (ECLAC/UNDP/GOC)– Phase 1 in progress: expert oversight,

technical advice to agencies in recovery phase, creation of an institution to deal with emergencies, institutional strengthening, update shelter policy

Developmental approaches to risk reduction and preparedness

“While the floods were the consequences of an extreme meteorological event, the disaster which engulfed the region is not entirely natural. The hazard itself should be analysed with regard to global climatic change. Severe environmental degradation which occurs over the affected area intensifies the impact of the hazard resulting in a major disaster. The impact of the hazard will increase when affected communities live in a precarious socio-economic situation.

UNDP Haiti

Developmental approaches to Developmental approaches to reducing vulnerabilityreducing vulnerability

Regional (UNDP Barbados Sub-regional Office) Caribbean Risk Management Initiative (CRMI)

– CRMI, Havana Initiative Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building

Programme (CHAMP) Comprehensive Approach for Disaster Management in

the Caribbean (CDM)– UNDP Barbados/CDERA Joint Evaluation Project of CDM

Regional Workshop for information sharing Disaster Emergency Response and Management

Systems (DERMS) 2000

Developmental approaches to Developmental approaches to reducing vulnerabilityreducing vulnerability

Sub-Regional Eastern Caribbean Donor Group for Disaster

Management Strengthening the search and rescue capabilities of

CDERA Caribbean Regional Seminar on The Use of

Information Technology in Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM project)

Doppler Radar Project, 2003-2004 (DIPECHO/CRMI project implemented in Jamaica, Haiti, DR)

IWCAM project with UNEP and CEHI

Developmental approaches to Developmental approaches to reducing vulnerabilityreducing vulnerability

National Community-based Disaster Management Projects (2001-

2005) Capacity building Pilot Flood Early Warning Systems Support implementation of National Plan for Disaster and

Risk Management World Bank/LICUS Disaster Risk Management Pilot Inter-agency contingency planning exercise Monitoring of hydro-meteorological hazards during

hurricane season Information Systems for Risk Assessment and Monitoring Local Risk Management/Structural Mitigation Activities

UN system StrengthsUN system Strengths

Coordination of activity, information dissemination, guidance & technical advice was effective

Active participation with Governments Ability to play the role of a facilitator between

Government, Donors, NGOs and civil society Deployment of UNDAC team timely & effectively Use of UNDAC & ECLAC is very important & of

high value

ConstraintsConstraints

Approvals of funds & technical assistance should have been more timely

Weak coordination of assessments and resource allocation

Shortage of human resources to coordinate donor response mechanisms

ConstraintsConstraints

Some local agencies lack organization– Weak government structures may have been an

impediment– Poor coordination among Government agencies

No clear transition from relief to recovery phase

No definition of a common approachFew examples of a coordinated response

Issues

IssuesIssues

What kind of institutions necessary during reconstruction– Do countries need an ONR or ARD? How should

reconstruction be “mainstreamed” Timeliness of damage assessment & allocation of

relief funds Coordination of activities Strength of counterpart agencies Development of mechanisms to ensure

sustainability of initiatives

RecommendationsRecommendations

Improve support to Coordination & Assessment Build national Government’s capacity for

response Promote multi-stakeholder participation in

recovery and reconstruction Build development to reduce vulnerability

– Incorporate disaster risk reduction into socio-economic policy and programme implementation for all SIDS

– Build stronger connections between Environmental & Disaster Risk Management

– Build stronger interagency approaches to reducing vulnerability

There is a direct link between the poverty and environmental degradation as the poor are often compelled to use the environment as a resource for their survival, resulting in severe environmental degradation.

UNDP Haiti

Opportunities in SIDSOpportunities in SIDS

Integrate Climate Change scenarios into physical & coastal zone planning (e.g. Work with CCCCC in Belize)

Seek opportunities to mainstream disaster prevention into physical and coastal planning

Build capacity to build disaster risk into economic planning scenarios

Opportunities in SIDSOpportunities in SIDS

Link with governance programs to improve community organizations for disaster management

Communications technology, radar and other EWS

GEF/UNDP/UNEP IWCAM project GEF SGP – Land Degradation & Climate Change

projects (by communities) Capacity 2015

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