Bahamas
Disasters
Las tasas de homicidio más altas del mundo se encuentran en la región. El embarazo adolescente es otra de las causas que también impide que decenas de miles de niños y niñas alcancen su máximo potencial.
ECOSOC/6911
Economic and Social Council
2018 Session, 22nd & 23rd Meetings (AM & PM)
The Economic and Social Council today heard from urban development and sustainability experts including mayors and other public officials focused on building resilient cities, as it continued its 2018 integration segment.
Many Latin American countries, states and cities are facing a chronic public security crisis. In spite of more than a decade of modest economic growth, crime and victimization rates are rising, not dropping. Nevertheless, recent information of 2017 show some signs of improvement. Criminal violence is routinely singled out as one of the top concerns of citizens from across Mexico, Central America and South America. And there are warning signs that the region ́s high rates of criminal violence and victimization will continue rising if nothing is done.
AT A GLANCE
Region East Asia and Pacific
Risks Reversal of development gains post-disaster; long term economic and fiscal impacts
Area of Engagement Deepening financial protection
Following a successful pilot program, Pacific Island Countries established a sovereign catastrophe risk insurance company for the region, increasing resilience and access to short-term funds needed to respond to disasters.
HIGH VULNERABILITY, LIMITED BUDGETS
THE 2017 Atlantic hurricane season was one of the worst in living memory. Major damage was recorded in Mexico and central America, and across the southern states of the USA but perhaps the most significant devastation was seen on some of the Caribbean islands. The Salvation Army's Caribbean, Latin America North and USA Eastern Territories, utilising staff and officers from corps (Salvation Army churches) across the region, was on the scene immediately, providing emergency help and aid to those in the greatest need. More than six months later, the response continues.
Authored by: Llonella Gilbert
NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Acting Prime Minister the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest said there are encouraging signs that the farming and fishing industries are on the comeback after passage of Hurricanes Joaquin, Matthew, Irma and Maria across the southern and northern islands of The Bahamas left extensive damage to the farmland and marine resources of those communities.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Apr 12 2018 (IPS) - The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) also known as the 5Cs, is looking for ways to boost the region’s access to the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The Centre is on the hunt for proposals from the private and public sector organisations around the region that want to work with the Centre to develop their ideas into successful projects that are in line with their country’s national priorities to build resilience to climate change.
OVERVIEW
• Countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region experience a range of natural hazards, including droughts, earthquakes, floods, forest fires, hurricanes, landslides, tsunamis, and volcanoes. El Niño and La Niña phenomena occur periodically, exacerbating the impacts of hydrometeorological events in the LAC region. Unplanned urban expansion, environmental and natural resource degradation, and land-use management challenges also increase populations’ vulnerability and exposure to natural hazards.
In brief
Several countries have disaster risk management plans, which need to be taken into consideration in the process to formulate and implement NAPs.
Many Caribbean countries have already mainstreamed adaptation into national development plans and climate change policies
Robust institutional arrangements provide an enabling environment for advancing adaptation planning.
Contributing to more effective risk management of crises and disaster in Latin America and the Caribbean
INTRODUCTION
The 2018 version of the Index for Risk Management for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC-INFORM) has been launched at the beginning of this year. LAC-INFORM 2018 is an update of LAC-INFORM 2017, the first version of this regional index.
Authored by: Sydnei L. Isaacs Source:
Bahamas Information Services Date:
March 25, 2018
NASSAU, The Bahamas— The Minister of the Environment and Housing, the Hon. Romauld Ferreira said “Energy has become a part of our lives that is a necessity…. We have some of the highest energy rates in the region, if not the world” at the BCCEC’s (Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation) Bahamas Energy Security Forum under the theme, 'Smart is the New Sexy' on Friday, March 23, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Island House.
Executive Summary
NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Bahamas, through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, participated in a regional simulation Tsunami Readiness Exercise “CaribeWave 18” on Thursday, March 15.
The Tsunami exercise is conducted yearly in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands under the direction of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) in Hawaii.
HURRICANE RELIEF – Some 125 cheques for hurricane repairs were issued on Friday, March 2, by the Ministry of Works and NEMA to those residents who had submitted the required paperwork proving ownership and damages done during Hurricane Matthew. People from each constituency were given a maximum of $4,000 to begin their repairs. Residents were advised that they could not issue the vouchers to anyone but the homeowners, and if they could not appear in person, personnel should go to them. Shown are: Dorie Cooper of NEMA and Adrianna Rolle of the Ministry of Works assisting a resident.
The PAHO/WHO Country Office for Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands donated computers and communication equipment to the Ministry of health.
The PAHO/WHO Country Office for Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands donated computers and communication equipment to the Ministry of health, The Bahamas, to strengthen its emergency response operational capacity of the Ministry of Health. Additionally, a small contribution was made towards the repair of a Community clinic in Ragged Island that was damaged by Hurricane Irma.
Key findings
UN agencies, NGOs, and government employees sharing the same workspace helped collaboration and information sharing.
Sector-specific and cross-sector coordination meetings allowed agencies and government actors to share information that reduced delays and increased collaboration between actors.
The lack of reliable baseline data greatly hampered efforts and delayed carrying out assessments and distributions properly during the response.
Countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region are highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, including droughts, earthquakes, forest fires, floods, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions. Between FY 2008 and FY 2017, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/ OFDA) and USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/ FFP) provided humanitarian assistance in response to a diverse range of emergencies in the region.
The steering committee established to spearhead the recovery process of countries hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, in September of 2017, have been moving ahead in the venture, information coming out from the CARICOM Secretariat stated.
Following the successful staging of the CARICOM-UN High-Level Pledging Conference at UN Headquarters in New York on November 21, 2017, the Steering Committee has continued to meet with a renewed focus on translating pledges into concrete programmes and initiatives.
