The impact arising from extreme natural phenomena in the Caribbean region continues to grow in importance, despite the efforts of national and regional preparedness, response and mitigation of the worst effects.

To address this growing concern, the service of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) and its partners, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the International Federation of Red Cross societies and Red Crescent, are convened in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (21 to 23 September), together with stakeholders and regional and national developers of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), as part of a planning workshop.

Note that since 1994, the financial assistance awarded by the European Commission in the Caribbean reached a total of €488.3 million whose 68% of this amount (€332) was spent in Haiti, notably to contribute to the response to the January 2010 earthquake, the cholera epidemic, food insecurity and to organize a major natural hazards preparedness. The remaining 156 million were invested in humanitarian aid for the Caribbean to support the efforts to respond to emergencies and preparedness activities to natural hazards.

ECHO contributed since 2005 to confirm the implementation of Sendai framework for risk reduction for the period 2015-2030, as was the case with the previous program (Hyogo Framework for Action). ECHO also developed essential tools and processes to strengthen the management of risk management systems, their emergency planning capabilities and the definition of priorities in DRR.

This workshop will promote the coordination, exchange and synergies between partners, projects and allies of Plan DRR DIP (DIsaster Preparedness) ECHO for the Caribbean 2015-2016, in the many countries of the region.

In order to articulate a coordinated vision of DRR procedures, the following round tables will focus on: international, regional and national scenarios in DRR; translating global frameworks in field operations; early warning systems and the communication related to DRR.

The workshop aims to develop a common approach to design mechanisms for the Caribbean. DRR projects will be analyzed and coordinated, so to continue the support to local and national institutions responsible for the management of disaster risks.

HL/ HaitiLibre