UNDP role in Emergency Response and Risk Reduction in the Caribbean during 2004 Dr David Smith, Programme Specialist, Environment & Disaster Management, Jamaica AAAaAAAa aaaaaa

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

HAITI

Response 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 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 Haiti Short to medium term actions Finalization of Inter-agency Contingency Plan for Natural Disasters Creation of joint Disaster Assessment Cell Launching of a disaster risk awareness campaign

Dominican Republic

Response in the Dominican Republic (DR) Event 1: May floods UNDAC team deployed Damage assessment conducted, actions for emergency response developed Coordinated international donor emergency support

Response in the Dominican Republic (DR) Recovery and Reconstruction BCPR supported formulation of recovery plan Focus on housing sector – Defined standards for housing – Government negotiations for land, basic infrastructure

Response in the Dominican 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 Republic (DR) Hurricane Jeanne Establishment 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

Response in Grenada POST HURRICANE IVAN Coordinator of the Eastern Caribbean Donor Group for Disaster Management UNDAC Team deployed Coordination Centre for international relief – Relief and recovery efforts Participant in the development of a disaster risk reduction strategy & guidelines for recovery phase

Response 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 Grenada RECOVERY & 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 Bahamas UNDP / UNDAC assessment visit post event IDB/ECLAC assessment of damage & loss Assistance 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 Jamaica ECLAC/UNDP strategy for reconstruction Provided support to aid coordination, communication and public information Provided 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 Jamaica Recovery and Reconstruction Member, Advisory Board ONR BCPR supported technical expertise UNDAC identified areas for on-going support ECLAC socio-economic impact assessment National Debrief (Nov. 2004)

Response in Jamaica Recovery 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 Islands UNDP / UNDAC assessment visit post event, facilitated by DFID & OFDA ECLAC assessment of damage & loss Follow-on project in reconstruction phase for disaster management and reduction of vulnerability

Cayman 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 reducing 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 reducing 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, (DIPECHO/CRMI project implemented in Jamaica, Haiti, DR) IWCAM project with UNEP and CEHI

Developmental approaches to reducing vulnerability National Community-based Disaster Management Projects ( ) 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 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

Constraints 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

Constraints 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 approach Few examples of a coordinated response

Issues

Issues 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

Recommendations 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 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 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

The End