Emergency Preparedness and Risk Reduction Plan in the Caribbean 2021

Regional Plan
Last updated: February 12 2021
Funding updated: February 17 2022
$5,737,513
Funding required
243,316
People Targeted

IOM Vision

IOM in the Caribbean region is recognised as a robust actor in preparedness, disaster risk reduction and emergency response and works in close coordination with government entities, international and national organizations, civil society organizations and communities at regional, national and local levels. The vision and the activities of IOM in the Caribbean link to the 3 pillars of the IOM Strategic Vision: Resilience, Mobility and Governance. This Caribbean Crisis Response Plan is mainly geared towards increasing the resilience of individuals, families, communities, institutions and populations to withstand shocks and stresses linked to environmental and biohazards. The preparedness and disaster risk reduction (DRR) work will tie in with longer-term initiatives in the region to make the region safer for all.

Objective 1 - Saving lives and protecting people on the move
Objective
Saving lives and protecting people on the move

$550,000
Funding required
2,000
People Targeted
1
Entities Targeted
Internally displaced person
Primary target groups
Description of People and Entities Targeted

As people have to evacuate from imminent danger areas, temporary shelter solutions must be available. Often there is a high likelihood of multiple displacements, as people explore further relocation in order to address livelihood, education and shelter needs of the household, and in situations where shelters with dual or multi-purposes are closed to return to their original purpose (as in the case of schools, for example).

Funding confirmed 97%
3% Funding gap

Shelter and settlements

IOM conducted an assessment on the performance of emergency shelters during Hurricane Dorian and preparedness for the next hurricane season, concluding that the available emergency shelter capacity in the region was largely insufficient in terms of quantity and quality and may have resulted in further displacement. IOM will follow up on recommendations shared with the government of the Bahamas which are likely relevant to other counties in the region, including:
•    Strengthening the operational capacities of the relevant authorities 
•    Increasing emergency shelter capacity in the right locations and factoring in potential longer term stays
•    Increasing minimum standards for emergency shelters, rehabilitating and equipping emergency shelter facilities to host displaced persons

Funding required
$550,000
Funding confirmed
$532,138
Last updated: 17 Feb 2022
Plan types
96%
Funding confirmed
4%
Funding gap

Multi-sectoral support

Includes funding which supports multi-sectoral interventions or cannot be attributed to a specific activity area.
Funding confirmed
$6,676
Last updated: 17 Feb 2022
IOM provides support to a mother in the Dominican Republic
IOM provides support to a mother in the Dominican Republic

Objective
Strengthen preparedness and reduce disaster risk

$5,187,513
Funding required
241,316
People Targeted
185
Entities Targeted
Internally displaced person, International migrant, Local population / community
Primary target groups
Description of People and Entities Targeted

In addition to the Regional and National Disaster Management Agencies, the following people and communities in The Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Commonwealth of Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago will be targeted:

  • 94 local migrant communities will receive community Disaster Risk Reduction training to prevent disasters
  • 228,600 persons and officials will be better prepared for emergencies through emergency management training, communication, emergency shelters, Non-Food Items and Water and Sanitation kits. 
  • 20 regional and national Emergency Management Agencies benefit from revised emergency shelter and evacuation policies.
  • The capacity of 71 health institutions and 1,146 health workers will be bolstered through the provision of essential medical supplies, COVID-19 PPE kits, trainings on priority health intervention areas, prevention and control of communicable diseases, effective risk communication and accessibility of health services.
  • 2,170 health professionals, schoolteachers and NGO / civil society staff will be organized and trained to provide Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and referral pathways to vulnerable groups persons after emergencies
Funding confirmed 3%
97% Funding gap

Disaster prevention

IOM's disaster prevention initiatives will include:

  • 94 local and migrant communities in 6 countries will be better prepared for future crisis through practical trainings on DRR including Community Risk Assessment, Early Warning systems, Evacuation Planning, First Aid, GBV risk mitigation and COVID-19 protocols. Women and persons with disabilities will be specifically involved.
Funding required
$194,688
Funding confirmed
$119,000
Last updated: 17 Feb 2022
Plan types
61%
Funding confirmed
39%
Funding gap

Emergency preparedness - rename

IOM's emergency preparedness initiatives will include:

  • Revision and dissemination of a Caribbean “Emergency Shelter Policy” including “mass evacuations” in collaboration with CDEMA, CARICOM and the 18 participating National Disaster Management agencies. 
  • Providing updated and regionalised IOM “Department of Emergency” trainings (CCCM, MICIC, protection mainstreaming/GBV risk mitigation and DTM to government departments, NGOs and civil society organizations).
  • Implementing MICIC activities in Caribbean countries such as inclusive communication/media campaigns, mapping of legal, consular and translation services, community cohesion meetings, updated information and promotion of the IOM MigApp.
  • Preparing, repairing, equipping emergency and evacuation centres in line with SPHERE standards, local building codes, and COVID-19 Infection Prevention Control (IPC) protocols.
  • Based on initial needs assessments, prepositioning of NFI kits (including tarpaulins, fasteners, kitchen sets, mats, solar lamps, tools, etc.) accessible for “at-risk” communities.
  • Prepositioning of WASH/hygiene kits (including soaps, tooth care, maternity items, underwear, etc.) accessible for “at-risk” communities.
Funding required
$3,803,335
Funding confirmed
$41,183
Last updated: 17 Feb 2022
Plan types
1%
Funding confirmed
99%
Funding gap

Health components of preparedness and risk reduction

IOM's health initiatives related to preparedness and risk reduction include:

  • Where appropriate and feasible, supporting bolstering existing health system capacity through the procurement and provision of essential medical supplies to communities in need/COVID-19 affected communities, alongside the provision of support to partners to help facilitate eventual COVID-19 vaccination roll-out efforts.
  • Prepositioning of COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) for communities in need.
  • Capacity building for local health care workers and partners on areas including, but not limited to, cold chain storage and vaccine handling and management, case management and continuity of treatment, and other areas as necessary.
  • Capacity building for IOM staff, NGOs and community representatives on prevention and control of communicable diseases, effective risk communication, and accessibility to health services. 
Funding required
$855,250
Plan types

System strengthening for mental health and psychosocial support

IOM's MHPSS initiatives designed to contribute to system strengthening include:

  • Mapping and training a roster of 40 Caribbean MHPSS professionals to be ready to respond in times of emergencies and providing training and support in line with the IOM Manual on Community-Based MHPSS in Emergencies and Displacement.
  • Mapping of the MHPSS support capacity and referral pathways in The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Guyana and Jamaica. 
  • Training 600 health practitioners on psychological first aid (PFA) and community-based MHPSS support, migrants' right to health, disclosure of protection incidents and referral pathways such as protection (including GBV), as well as socio-economic opportunities, if available.
  • Training 630 NGOs and civil society organizations on community-based MHPSS, disclosure of protection incidents and referral such as health, specialized MHPSS services, protection (including GBV), as well as socio-economic opportunities, if available.
  • Training schoolteachers in on basic PFA and the core concepts on how to ethically and safely support and/or refer children and youth, including survivors of GBV.
Funding required
$334,240
Plan types
Operational presence in

Bahamas, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Jamaica, Guyana, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

The map used here is for illustration purposes only. Names and boundaries do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by IOM.

Figures are as of 31 December 2023. For more details of IOM's operational capacity in country, please see the IOM Capacity section.

With thanks to our current donors