Inez
Joseph lives in Anse La Raye in St Lucia, a fishing village
surrounded by three rivers and the sea. Like many of her fellow
villagers, she faces the same problem every hurricane season
– severe flooding. “I have lived in this village
for 45 years and every year it is the same thing,” she
explained. “My home gets flooded and I lose everything.
My children can’t go to school and we have to start all
over again.”
Yet, while there is flooding every year, Inez says that the
villagers are now more educated in disaster management and risk
reduction and can therefore reduce the impact. For many years,
the St Lucia Red Cross has been working in this community, one
of the most vulnerable in St Lucia and home to some 4,000 families.
There are many people like Inez in the Caribbean and Central
America for whom the hurricane season, which starts on 1 June,
is a major cause for concern. The heavy and powerful rains cause
death and destruction not only to communities but to entire
countries. Meteorological experts predict that this season could
witness above average levels of activity.
This is why the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies is working with National Societies to scale
up its disaster management and risk reduction programmes. The
Red Cross plays a critical role in disseminating early warning
messages and safety information at the local level by mobilising
its unique network of volunteers and community members.
For four days last week, the Caribbean and Central American
Red Cross met in St Lucia to discuss disaster preparedness for
the upcoming hurricane season. The annual pre-hurricane meeting
has become a key event in the Red Cross calendar. It brings
together many experienced people and gives them an opportunity
to assess their preparedness, share their views, learn from
past experiences, discuss new tools and develop a fresh vision
of how they should address the challenges the hurricane season
may bring.
There were representatives from 23 Caribbean and Central American
National Societies and Overseas Branches as well as other international
agencies. Participants admitted that while Red Cross preparations
for this year’s hurricane season are well underway, there
is a need to scale up their approach. Over time, they noted,
disaster preparedness has been proven to save lives and reduce
the impact of disasters.
“Our people must take the lead role in protecting local
families, property and livelihood from disasters,” said
Kenneth Monplaisir, President of the St Lucia Red Cross. “The
commitment to do this reflects an understanding and respect
for natural disasters but most importantly a love and respect
for our communities.”
He went on to say that the Red Cross needs to play a more critical
role in developing and completing national disaster response
plans, and develop local capacity to participate in the process.
Strategies to reduce environmental degradation and climate change
also need to be implemented by all countries.
National Societies in the region have recognised that the commitment
to reduce vulnerability requires national and individual effort.
This effort needs to be targeted at strategic objectives, continuous
monitoring and evaluation in all aspects of disaster preparedness.
Leon Prop, Head of the International Federation’s Regional
Delegation in Panama, emphasised the need for more effective
early warning systems as the number of weather-related disasters
continues to increase. He also noted the importance of working
with other partner agencies in the region on disaster preparedness
and risk reduction.
“The world needs effective cooperation more now that ever
before,” he explained. “When disaster strikes, there
are times when the resources of an affected country are overwhelmed
and international assistance is required. In these situations,
it is essential that such assistance can be provided quickly,
effectively and to the highest possible standards for the immediate
and long-term benefit of affected communities.”
Mr Prop urged participants to strengthen their relations with
multilateral partners such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency
Response Agency. “It is not until we have those partnerships
that we can make a real difference,” he said.
Last year’s hurricane season broke all records in the
number of named storms, their intensity and behaviour. Millions
of people were affected and it was considered to be the most
active ever recorded in the Atlantic and in hurricane history.
There were 27 named storms, 14 hurricanes and seven major hurricanes.
The International Federation appealed for more than 10 million
CHF to meet the needs of 171,000 people in 12 of the worst affected
countries, including Haiti, Jamaica, Bahamas, Mexico, Guatemala,
Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Cuba.
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For
four days last week, the Caribbean and Central American
Red Cross met in St Lucia to discuss disaster preparedness
for the upcoming hurricane season. There were representatives
from 23 Caribbean and Central American National Societies
and Overseas Branches as well as other international agencies.
(p14051)
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A
volunteer from the British Red Cross from the Cayman Islands
Branch. (p14049)
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For
many years, the St Lucia Red Cross has been working in
this community, one of the most vulnerable in St Lucia
and home to some 4,000 families. (p14050)
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