From left: Team Leader Marilise Turnbull, Minister VSA Omar Ottley, Community Emergency Response Specialist Ignacio Cristóbal, Community Evacuations and Mass Care and Distribution specialist Herman Bergsma.
PHILIPSBURG--The government of St. Maarten has received support from the European Union (EU) with the “Technical Assistance for Disaster Response and Preparedness” project.
The project began on June 20, in coordination with the St. Maarten authorities. The overall objective of the European Union (EU) funded project is to support the Government of St. Maarten in its vision to strengthen its institutional capacity to plan, monitor and coordinate post-disaster response and reconstruction.
This was shared by the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA in a press release on Tuesday.
One of the first activities of the project is a Disaster Risk Mapping in all districts. It will be done with the engagement and validation of community councils and other community-minded individuals. A team of experts with global experience in disaster management will use a participatory methodology to guide each community to analyse the hazards it faces, its vulnerabilities and capacities for effective Disaster Risk Management.
The information gathered by each community will be added to the national Geographic Information System to create an easily accessible St. Maarten-wide mapping that can be used for disaster preparedness and response. Also, based on the results of the risk mapping, each community will develop an action plan to tackle the risks and strengthen its response capacities.
The project will also organise and train Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) to be ready to help their communities in the event of a disaster. These teams will be anchored in the national disaster response system and play a key role in protecting the people of St. Maarten before and during disasters.
To support evacuation and mass care/distribution, an evacuation framework will be developed, and a mass care and distribution handbook with key information will be created. “These will serve the people of St. Maarten in the event of hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and other hazards,” said the release.
A community awareness communication strategy will also be developed, with tools that deliver key messages for disaster risk reduction, prevention, preparedness and response in case of emergencies.
Kick off meetings
Minister of VSA Omar Ottley met with the technical team that will work on the project and said, “This EU project is very important for the people of St. Maarten. We need to be fully prepared”.
The team for this project will work closely with the Ministry of VSA especially with the Community Development, Family and Humanitarian Affairs. The team is also coordinating with Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the organisation that is building new shelters to protect the most vulnerable when disaster strikes.
The technical team is comprised of five key experts in Disaster Preparedness and Response, Community Emergency Response, GIS Mapping, Evacuations and mass care and distribution and a Communication Specialist. It is contracted by SOFRECO, a European consulting firm.
Team leader, Marilise Turnbull, said “This EU-funded project builds on lessons learned with Hurricanes Irma and Louis. It will help prevent St. Maarten from experiencing more losses, damage and suffering.”
Community preparedness expert, Ignacio Cristóbal, commented, “All districts of St. Maarten are invited to participate in this project. Please come along to the meetings in your community and find out how you can benefit. Disaster preparedness is everyone’s business!”
The first actions of the project have started. According to the release within the next few days, calls will be made to community councils to arrange meetings and training.
All objectives of this project will promote a rights-based and participatory approach, gender equality and inclusion of persons with disability.
