The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) in collaboration with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), with support from CCRIF SPC (formerly the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility), is hosting a workshop today, Wednesday 5th April, to validate the findings of an assessment of four (4) vulnerable communities in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and to provide input into the development of strategies and action plans for reducing vulnerability in these communities.
The findings of the vulnerability assessments will be presented by Disaster Management Specialist, Mr. Keith Ford, who was contracted by the OECS Commission. Mr. Ford, with the support of NEMO, and other national entities, prioritised and conducted vulnerability assessments in the communities of Sandy Bay, Barrouallie, Langley Park, Georgetown and Paget Farm, Bequia; utilising instruments developed for the OECS Commission. Mr. Ford will also present recommendations for reducing disaster risks in these communities, and seek consensus on the way forward.
Representatives of regional and national agencies engaged in environmental management, disaster risk management and sustainable development, community stakeholders and other entities including civil society organisations and community disaster committees will participate in this workshop.
The workshop is being held at the Methodist Church Hall, Kingstown and commenced at 8:30 a.m.
Additional Information
Over the last five years, OECS member states have been impacted by extreme climate related events such as a prolonged drought during 2009-2010, Hurricane Tomas in 2010 and trough systems in December 2013 and November 2016. These events have resulted in deaths, injuries and trauma to residents in affected communities, millions of dollars in damage and losses and damage to the natural resources.
The Commission of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), through its disaster response, risk reduction and climate change programmes, and with the support of development partners, has focused on reducing vulnerability and building resilience of communities in OECS member states to the impacts of natural hazards prevalent in the region.