UNICEF, CDEMA partner to protect children in disastersBARBADOS, 7 June 2017 - UNICEF and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) have come together to position children at the centre of disaster risk management and response in the Caribbean.

With the Caribbean being recognised as one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world, and an above-average 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season being forecast, CDEMA and UNICEF cemented their partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The agreement, which is expected to enhance children’s protection both before and after a disaster, was signed by Ronald Jackson, Executive Director of CDEMA and Khin-Sandi Lwin, UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Area.

A key part of the agreement is the pre-positioning of emergency supplies in Antigua, closer to central and northern parts of Caribbean islands, thus extending the outreach and ensuring timely delivery of emergency supplies to affected communities in the aftermath of any natural disasters. Supplies which can serve the southern Caribbean are already pre-positioned in Barbados.

In addition to their collaboration to pre-position supplies, UNICEF and CDEMA are developing a guideline for child-centred emergency and disaster risk management in the Caribbean schools, with the aim to provide specific support to member states to build more resilient schools.

They are also strengthening child protection protocols including Return to Happiness, the psycho-social programme which is implemented in the aftermath of disasters to assist children in coping with the trauma of these dramatic and impactful events.

Child sensitive risk analysis/assessment with joint simulation exercises are also a part of the joint work being undertaken by the agencies.