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Haiti - Climate : Haiti already preparing the hurricane season
08/03/2011 13:26:08

The hurricane season is fast approaching and the actors begin to prepare and to work together to adjust their emergency services. It is in this context that was conducted the workshop of evaluation and preparation to the hurricane season chaired by Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste, Director of Civil Protection (DPC), and organized by the National Risk Management and disasters (SNGRD) with the support of the United Nations Development Programme UNDP.

"One of the highlights to improve this year is the coordination and the definition of the roles of each actor" asserts Ms. Jean-Baptiste. "The leadership in 2010 has not been clear enough for everyone. At certain moments, everyone has intervened on its side leading to a duplication of work hence the need for better resource management and task distribution" The idea is to pool all available resources and integrate them into a system of strategic intervention in emergency situations (detailed mapping of the partners in each region, contact list update, positioning of the aid stocks, risk areas, national contingency plan, logistical needs: transport, communications, shelter).

"At the departmental level, we have no budget, we rely on the support projects that exist on site. [...] The communes need more support" said Jean-Michel Sabbat, Technical Coordinator Departmental of the Southeast. The different actors have also stressed the need to simplify the administrative procedures in times of crisis. The Haitian Red Cross in particular has recalled that in 2010 it took 48 hours before removing vehicles from the port in full hurricane Tomas.

The workshop also evaluated the positive points in 2010 which will be repeated this year. The publication deadline for the contingency plan has been set for late April followed by a simulation exercise, which would focus on two issues: the coordination and communication in real time.

Haiti: Learn more about the risks of disasters :

The index of risk of natural disasters for Haiti (12.9) is among the highest in the world. The year 2008 was one of the most devastating cyclone periods, of the fifty past years for the country. Within one month (between late August and early September), Haiti was hit by four elements (Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike) that caused 793 deaths and 165.337 families disaster according to the final assessment of the DPC. The magnitude of these events has affected the whole country including two major recurring disasters in Gonaives and Cabaret. All sectors (education, infrastructure, health, agriculture, etc. ....) have suffered extensive damage. The costs were estimated at $897 million.

HL/ HaitiLibre