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
Saving lives and protecting people on the move
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).
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
Objective
Strengthen preparedness and reduce disaster risk
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
IOM's disaster prevention initiatives will include:
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IOM's emergency preparedness initiatives will include:
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IOM's health initiatives related to preparedness and risk reduction include:
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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.